Americans are Drinking Less than they Used to: Should we Thank Young People for “Sober Curious Movements”?

The average number of drinks Americans consume in a week has been falling over the last several years — from 5.1 in 2003 to 3.6 in 2021, Gallup found.

  • 60% of Americans say they drink, down from 65% in 2019, 
  • Younger people are leading the charge. The share of college students who abstain from alcohol jumped from 20% to 28% between 2002 and 2018, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics.

Why it matters: Excessive drinking can bring devastating harm

Axios author believes that one engine of this trend might be the rise of the “sober curious” movement. More and more young people are choosing to pursue sobriety for health and wellness and are limiting their alcohol consumption for the same reasons. With that comes the rise of hip, new non-alcoholic beverages. Nielsen notes that sales of booze-free drinks skyrocketed 113% between 2020 and 2021. The decline in drinking goes hand-in-hand with other wellness trends young people are driving — including vegetarian and vegan diets

Read More Here for Gallup Study…