Poll: More Americans View Moderate Drinking as Harmful

A new Gallup poll found that fewer Americans are drinking alcohol as more people believe even moderate drinking can harm their health. 

The Details: The poll found that 53% of U.S. adults say moderate drinking is bad for their health, the highest number recorded by Gallup and up from 28% in 2015. Only 54% report drinking liquor, beer or wine, which is reportedly the lowest figure in three decades. Younger adults are most likely to see “one or two drinks a day” as a health risk, but older adults are also shifting their views, according to the poll. Gallup’s survey, conducted in July, also found that younger Americans are now drinking at slightly lower rates than middle-aged and older adults.

Key Quotes: “Older folks may be a little more hardened in terms of the whiplash that they get with recommendations,” Gallup researcher Lydia Saad said, according to a report by The Associated Press. “It may take them a little longer to absorb or accept the information. Whereas, for young folks, this is the environment that they’ve grown up in.”

For Context: Health experts in recent years have warned of alcohol’s risks, pointing to strong evidence linking it to cancer and other health issues. That is a change from past research that suggested moderate drinking might have some benefits. 

How the Media Covered It: While many outlets focused on the Gallup poll showing alcohol consumption is down among Americans, there were some key differences in coverage. Fox News (Right bias) emphasized political angles, noting that “Republicans have reported a sharp drop in drinking habits, but Democrats' percentage has held fairly steady” over the past two years. The Associated Press (Left) highlighted generational differences in views on alcohol and reported that the “federal government is updating new dietary guidelines,” which include alcohol recommendations.

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