Is Trump’s party killing the alcohol industry? White male drinking rates plunge as US consumption hits near-century low

A new poll shows a growing trend toward healthier lifestyles, with alcohol consumption in the United States declining steadily and now at its lowest level in almost a century. According to a recent Gallup survey published on August 13, only 54 per cent of Americans of legal drinking age consume alcohol, the lowest percentage since the poll began in 1939. By comparison, alcohol consumption peaked at 71 per cent between 1976 and 1978.

However, the decline is not evenly distributed. Women’s drinking rates have dropped 11 percentage points since 2023, now at 51 per cent, while men have fallen five points to 57 per cent. Young adults are leading the change, with only 50 per cent reporting alcohol consumption, now lower than middle-aged and older adults.

Republicans behind dry America?

Gallup finds a stark partisan difference in alcohol consumption. It shows a steep decline in alcohol consumption among Republicans, with only 46 per cent reporting that they drink, down 19 points from 65 per cent in 2023 and 57 per cent in 2024. By contrast, Democrats’ drinking rates have remained stable at 61 per cent, like in 2024.

White adults also saw a significant decrease, with 56 per cent reporting alcohol consumption in 2025, down 11 points from 67 per cent in 2023. This aligns with the broader trend among Republicans, many of whom are White, suggesting a notable cultural shift in drinking habits within this demographic.

For context, the Pew Research Center data shows around 55 per cent of White voters supported Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election. This percentage is consistent with Trump's support among White voters in 2020, which was also 55 per cent.

Drinking is bad for health, the majority says

When asked whether drinking in moderation, defined as one or two drinks per day, is good for health, harmful, or makes no difference, 53 per cent of respondents believe that drinking in moderation, defined as “one or two drinks a day,” is harmful to health. Only 6 per cent say moderate drinking is beneficial, while 37 per cent feel it makes no difference.

This marks a sharp shift from previous years: 28 per cent of Americans viewed moderate drinking as harmful in 2018, rising to 39 per cent in 2023 and 45 per cent a year ago. Between 2001 and 2011, about a quarter of respondents held this belief, roughly equal to those who thought moderate drinking could be beneficial.

Impact on major beverage companies

These shifts in drinking behavior are affecting the nation’s largest alcohol producers. Industry giants are struggling with slowing growth, forcing them to rethink strategies, potentially facing a transformation similar to what the tobacco industry experienced years ago.

Molson Coors and Constellation Brands, the distributors of Corona, have been particularly affected. In their latest earnings reports, the companies reported volume drops of 7 per cent and 3.3 per cent, respectively, reflecting the broader decline in alcohol consumption across all sectors, as reported by Islander News.