The percentage of American adults who say they drink alcohol remains at a historic low, according to a new Gallup survey, with just 54% reporting that they consume alcoholic beverages. The figure matches the record low recorded in 2025 and represents the lowest level in Gallup's tracking of American drinking habits, which dates back to 1939.

The latest findings show a sharp decline over the past several years. In 2023, 62% of Americans said they drank alcohol, followed by 58% in 2024 and 54% in 2025. The percentage remained at 54% in 2026, suggesting that the recent drop has persisted rather than quickly reversing.

Gallup's annual Consumption Habits survey was conducted July 1-19 among American adults aged 18 and older. The results indicate that changing attitudes toward alcohol and its potential health consequences are coinciding with a broader shift in drinking habits.

More Americans are also expressing concerns about the health effects of moderate drinking. Gallup found that 51% believe consuming one or two alcoholic drinks a day is bad for a person's health. That is slightly below the 53% recorded in 2025, which was a record high, but it remains well above the 27% who held that view when Gallup first asked the question in 2001.

The survey also found that self-reported excessive drinking has declined. Just 13% of Americans said they sometimes drink too much, the lowest figure in Gallup's tracking of the behavior. By comparison, 19% reported sometimes drinking too much in 2023, while the figure reached 35% in 1989.

Among Americans who still drink, reported consumption averaged 3.2 alcoholic beverages over the previous week. That was close to the 2.8 drinks reported in 2025 but below the average of 3.9 drinks across the five readings before last year's survey.

The decline in alcohol consumption has appeared across most major demographic groups. Since 2023, the share of men who drink has fallen from 62% to 56%, while the share of women has dropped from 63% to 53%. Drinking has also declined among adults ages 18 to 34, 35 to 54, and 55 and older.

Political affiliation showed a different pattern. Since 2023, the share of Republicans who say they drink alcohol has fallen by 12 percentage points, to 53%, while the share among independents declined 11 points, to 50%. Among Democrats, the figure slipped only one point over the same period, standing at 63% in 2026.

Gallup also examined the use of nonalcoholic alternatives. Seventeen percent of Americans said they had consumed nonalcoholic beer, wine, or spirits instead of an alcoholic beverage at some point during the previous year. Among drinkers who use these alternatives, 38% said they were consuming more of them than they used to.

Despite the overall decline in drinking, beer remains the most commonly preferred alcoholic beverage among American drinkers, with 36% naming it as their primary choice. Liquor followed at 32%, while 30% preferred wine. Over the longer term, preferences have shifted toward liquor and away from beer.

The findings point to a significant change in American drinking habits, with alcohol consumption remaining at its lowest recorded level as concerns about its health effects have become more widespread. Whether the decline continues will be a key trend to watch in future Gallup surveys.