Drinking in America

Gallup just released their annual survey of US drinking patterns. Earlier this summer, NPR published the results of a study on where and how Americans spent money on booze. Let’s put the pieces together.

Who drinks?

Pretty much unchanged from the past, Gallup reports that two-thirds (66%) of Americans drink alcohol, consuming just over 4 drinks a week.

Last year the number was 64%; the same in 1992 and 1982. The earliest measure reported was in 1939 with 58% alcohol drinkers. For decades, then, two thirds say they drink alcohol. With roughly 200 million Americans of legal drinking age, that means there are 132 million drinkers.

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