U.S. Alcohol Use Falls to 54% 90-Year Low as Gen Z Drinks Less but Better
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 26
U.S. Alcohol Use Falls to 54% 90-Year Low as Gen Z Drinks Less but Better
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 26
Summary
54% of U.S. adults said they drank alcohol in 2025, Gallup found, down from 58% in 2024 and the lowest reading in the poll’s 90-year history.
Gen Z is driving the shift with a sober-curious approach that favors drinking less often, paying for higher-quality beverages and treating alcohol as a deliberate social experience rather than routine consumption.
67% of spirits drinkers and 52% of average drinkers told NielsenIQ they would pay more for better drinks, reinforcing an industry pivot from volume toward premium offerings.
Rising bar prices and pandemic-era habits are also pushing younger adults toward premium drinking at home, where companies like Bartesian pitch cocktails for about $3 to $4 instead of roughly $24 at bars.