Alcohol Consumption Is Up 14% Since 2000, With Half of Americans Drinking

Drinking is a common aspect of American culture. In fact, half of consumers drink alcohol. And it’s generally becoming more prevalent: Between 2000 and 2022, consumption jumped 14.2%.

We surveyed nearly 2,000 U.S. consumers on their drinking habits, then analyzed National Institutes of Health National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism data to determine how drinking has changed over time. Here’s what we found.

Key findings

Half of Americans drink

Half of Americans admit to drinking. By age group, millennials ages 29 to 44 are the most likely to drink, at 55%. Comparatively, Gen Zers ages 18 to 28 (41%) are the least likely. Men (55%) are more likely than women (45%) to say they drink.

Like all things, alcohol has become more pricey lately, so it may make sense that the biggest demographic gap between drinkers and nondrinkers is household income. Six-figure earners are the most likely to say they drink at 60%, while only 38% of Americans earning less than $30,000 do so.

Many drinkers do so weekly, with 48% saying this. Concerningly, 18% of drinkers do so daily — the next highest response. That’s highest among millennials (22%), men (21%) and those who earn $30,000 to $49,999 annually (21%).

Drinking has health consequences regardless of how often you consume, ValuePenguin health insurance expert Divya Sangameshwar says.

The U.S. Surgeon General in January 2025 released an advisory on alcohol consumption and cancer risk. According to the report, an estimated 96,730 cancer cases in 2019 were related to alcohol consumption — and consuming alcohol increases the risk of developing at least seven types of cancer.

While 16% of drinkers only do so on special occasions, that’s especially true among those earning less than $30,000 (23%), those earning $30,000 to $49,999 (21%) and baby boomers ages 61 to 79 (20%).

When it comes to why Americans consume alcohol, 60% of drinkers do so for relaxation. Meanwhile, 45% enjoy the taste. Other reasons include:

On the other hand, those who don’t drink are most likely to cite a lack of interest, at 47%. Meanwhile, 32% don’t drink for physical health reasons. That’s followed by:

Drinking habits are consistent, but some are drinking less

Most believe their habits are consistent, with 49% of drinkers reporting they haven’t noticed a change in the past year. Meanwhile, 33% drink less and just 19% drink more.

Those with children younger than 18 (30%), millennials (29%) and Gen Zers (28%) are the most likely to have increased drinking this year.

Similarly, 58% think their drinking habits will remain the same next year. Still, a higher percentage plan to cut back on drinking than drink more, with 28% believing they’ll drink less and 14% believing they’ll drink more. Younger consumers are more likely to say they’ll drink more, at 24% among Gen Zers and 22% among millennials.

Overall, though, Americans believe drinking plays a major role in society. Across all consumers, 40% believe drinking is becoming more prevalent in society. Just 22% believe it’s becoming less prevalent.

Sangameshwar says this boils down to higher consumer awareness.

"While Americans become more conscious about their alcohol consumption, they’re paying more attention to how much the people around them are drinking, leading them to conclude that people are drinking more," she says. "We’re also seeing a shift away from more traditional American beverages like beer to beverages with a higher ABV (alcohol by volume), like wine and spirits."

Still, though, 49% have noticed an increase in nonalcoholic alternatives at bars, restaurants and stores.

Alcohol consumption has risen 14.2%

Turning to National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) data, alcohol consumption rose 14.2% from 2.19 gallons of ethanol per capita in 2000 to 2.50 gallons in 2022.

By alcohol type from 2000 to 2022, spirit consumption increased by 65.6% and wine consumption increased by 35.5%. Meanwhile, beer consumption was down 17.1%.

That demonstrates a shift toward stronger drinks. Twelve ounces of beer contains 5% ABV, according to the NIAAA, while five ounces of wine has 12% ABV and 1.5 ounces of hard liquor has 40% ABV.

This is a recent shift. According to the NIAAA, 2022 marked the first time since 1969 that per-capita consumption of ethanol from spirits was higher than from beer.

Gallons of ethanol consumed per person 14 and older, by drink type

According to Sangameshwar, there are a few reasons for this shift.

"Beer has fallen out of favor among the health conscious for wine or spirits, which are seen to be ‘healthier’ because they have fewer calories," she says. "Some drinkers also consider them as better because their higher ABV levels can get the drinker a buzz faster, allowing them to limit their intake. Additionally, younger Americans are also opting out of alcoholic beverages for marijuana."

In 2023, Americans spent $637 on alcoholic beverages, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. That represents a 37.6% increase from 2014, when they spent $463 on alcohol.

New Hampshire residents drink the most

By state, New Hampshire residents 14 and older consume the most alcohol per capita. Here, the equivalent of 4.5 gallons of ethanol was consumed per capita in 2022. Delaware and the District of Columbia tied for second at 4.1 gallons each.

Notably, the District of Columbia has among the highest percentage of residents who binge drink, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

States where residents consume the most alcohol per capita

Meanwhile, Utah residents consumed the least, at just 1.2 gallons of ethanol per capita. That’s perhaps unsurprising given its high religious population. West Virginia (1.8) followed. Idaho, Oklahoma and Arkansas tied for third-lowest at 1.9.

By consumption type, Delaware residents consume the most spirits, at 2.3 gallons per capita. That’s followed by New Hampshire (2.0) and the District of Columbia (1.9).

By wine consumption, the District of Columbia (1.1) ranks first, followed by New Hampshire (0.8) and Vermont and Delaware (both at 0.7). New Hampshire (1.7) is first for beer, followed by Montana (1.6) and Vermont (1.5).

Full rankings

States where residents consume the most/least alcohol per capita

Delaware has seen the biggest spike in drinking

Delaware isn’t only in the top three for consumption; it also saw the biggest jump over time. Between 2000 and 2022, ethanol consumption per person 14 and older in the state increased 40.6% from 2.9 gallons to 4.1.

North Dakota (37.7%) and Tennessee (30.3%) followed.

States with the biggest increases in ethanol consumption per capita

On the other hand, eight states saw alcohol consumption fall. South Carolina (12.4%) ranks first, followed by Georgia (9.1%) and Idaho (5.7%).

Full rankings

Understanding drinking and health: Health insurance tips

Your health can play a crucial role in your insurance and the policy you choose. It’s critical to understand your health risks with alcohol. Sangameshwar says the following:

However, it’s worth noting your alcohol consumption can impact your life insurance.

"Many life insurance applications ask how much alcohol you drink, and how often," Sangameshwar says. "There usually is no impact on rates for healthy applicants with no history of alcohol abuse. However, if an applicant already has another medical condition (like high blood pressure or diabetes) or has a family history of alcohol abuse and admits to even low levels of drinking, they may find it harder to get covered or get favorable rates."

A recent DUI or DWI will also mean paying significantly more for life insurance or being denied coverage. Many life insurance policies also won’t pay out for a death caused by the insured party's intoxication.