Americans’ Alcohol Consumption Declines, Older Adults Buck Trend
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Americans' Alcohol Consumption Declines, Older Adults Buck Trend
- A new study published in September 2026 found that any alcohol use among U.S. adults decreased by nearly 2% from 2022 to 2024, with heavy drinking declining by more than 8% in the same period.
- Dr. Brian P. Lee, a hepatologist at Keck Medicine of USC and the study's lead researcher, noted that while the overall decline is encouraging, heavy drinking among adults aged 50 to 64 increased by over 36% from 2018 to 2024.
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A recent study, published in the *Annals of Internal Medicine* in September 2026, indicates that alcohol consumption among American adults has decreased for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, led by Dr. Brian P. Lee, a hepatologist and liver transplant specialist at Keck Medicine of USC, analyzed data from over 114,000 U.S. adults through the National Health Interview Survey between 2018 and 2024.
The study revealed that any alcohol use fell by almost 2% and heavy drinking declined by more than 8% between 2022 and 2024. Despite this encouraging drop, overall alcohol consumption remains higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2020.
The decline in drinking was not uniform across all age groups. Adults in Generation Z (ages 18 to 29) showed the most significant decrease in any alcohol use, dropping by over 5%. Millennials (ages 30 to 49) experienced the steepest reduction in heavy drinking, with a 17% decrease from 2022 to 2024. Researchers suggest possible factors for this trend among younger adults include the rise of the “sober-curious” movement, increased awareness of alcohol’s health risks, and a potential shift towards cannabis use.
Conversely, adults aged 50 to 64, primarily Generation X and younger Baby Boomers, showed a concerning trend. Heavy drinking in this demographic increased by over 36% from 2018 to 2024, and any alcohol consumption rose by nearly 4% in the same period. This is particularly alarming as older adults face a higher risk of alcohol-related health issues, such as liver disease, certain cancers, and cardiovascular disease, even with similar consumption levels as younger individuals. Dr. Lee emphasized the importance of tailoring alcohol prevention efforts to specific populations, noting that the national decline should not overshadow the continued risks faced by certain groups.