Alcoholic Drinks Preferred By Americans

Since 1992 the folks over at the Gallup Poll have been surveying American adults on their preferences among alcoholic drinks. Traditionally, beer is the big winner. In 1992, 47% of respondents listed beer as their favorite alcoholic drink, with wine coming in second at 27% and liquor finishing third at 21%.

But beer has been trending downward since that time, and wine has been trending upward (with liquor pretty much staying the same in the low 20 percent range). And the latest Gallup Poll survey (Taken between July 7th and July 10th of 1,016 randomly chosen adults nationwide) shows that wine and beer are now in a dead heat for first place. About 36% now say beer is their preferred drink while 35% list wine as their favorite. Around 23% favor liquor.

The interesting part is the demographic breakdown. Beer remains a heavy favorite among men, among people making less than $30,000 a year, and among those with a high school diploma or less. Beer is also a prohibitive favorite in the Midwest. In other parts of the country and among other groups wine has made some serious inroads. Here is the demographic breakdown:

MALE
beer..........48%
wine..........20%
liquor..........26%

FEMALE
beer..........22%
wine..........51%
liquor..........21%

18 TO 34
beer..........39%
wine..........25%
liquor..........30%

35 TO 54
beer..........41%
wine..........31%
liquor..........23%

55 AND OVER
beer..........27%
wine..........47%
liquor..........19%

WHITE
beer..........38%
wine..........36%
liquor..........20%

NONWHITE
beer..........27%
wine..........33%
liquor..........33%

$30,000 AND UNDER
beer..........51%
wine..........16%
liquor..........25%

$30,001 TO $74,999
beer..........33%
wine..........38%
liquor..........24%

$75,000 AND OVER
beer..........30%
wine..........43%
liquor..........21%

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR LESS
beer..........44%
wine..........30%
liquor..........21%

SOME COLLEGE
beer..........33%
wine..........32%
liquor..........29%

COLLEGE GRADUATE
beer..........29%
wine..........42%
liquor..........21%

EAST
beer..........37%
wine..........40%
liquor..........17%

MIDWEST
beer..........46%
wine..........31%
liquor..........17%

SOUTH
beer..........29%
wine..........34%
liquor..........28%

WEST
beer..........31%
wine..........35%
liquor..........29%