64% Of Americans Drink Either Beer, Wine, Or Liquor

The Gallup Poll has released its latest survey on alcohol use in the United States. The survey was done between July 8th and 12th of a random national sample of 1,009 adults, and has a margin of error of 4 points.

It should come as no surprise that beer remains the most popular alcoholic drink of those who use alcohol in this country. Beer is the choice of 42% of drinkers, while wine is second with 34%, and liquor has 21%.

What did somewhat surprise me are the groups that do the most drinking. I had assumed that urban-dwellers, young people, Southerners, those with the least income, and those with the least education would be the groups with the highest percentage of drinkers. I was wrong. That is just the opposite of the truth. (see bottom chart).

It turns out that those living in an urban area actually drink less than those in either suburbia or in a rural area -- and those with the most education and the highest income drink significantly more than those with the least education and income. Southerners drink less than those in any other region, and young people (18 to 29) drink less than those aged 30 to 64.

It also turns out that a significant majority (64%) of Americans drink alcohol. In fact only one group had less than 52% alcohol usage --those making less than $30,000 a year (with only 45% alcohol usage). Also interesting is that Whites drink a lot more than Nonwhites (69% to 52%), and married people drink more than those unmarried (70% to 58%). Not surprising, at least to me, is that men drink more than women (69% to 59%).