Why 36% of Americans are drinking less alcohol in 2026

Key findings:

• More than one in three (36%) Americans aged 21 or over who drink alcohol say they are drinking less alcohol than they were 12 months ago, while just 5% say they are drinking more.
• Among those who have cut back, the most common reason is a reduced desire to drink (50%).
• Health concerns (35%) and cost (20%) are the next most commonly cited reasons for drinking less.

New data from YouGov Profiles shows that while most Americans who drink say their alcohol consumption has remained unchanged over the past year, those cutting back far outnumber those who are drinking more.

The data also reveals the reasons why many Americans are choosing to drink less.

More than one in three Americans who drink alcohol say they are drinking less than a year ago

Most Americans aged 21 or over who drink alcohol (57%) say their alcohol consumption has stayed the same compared with 12 months ago.

However, more than one in three (36%) say they are drinking less alcohol than they were a year ago, while just 5% report drinking more. A further 2% say they have stopped drinking alcohol altogether.

Americans cutting back on alcohol cite reduced desire to drink, followed by health concerns and cost

Among Americans adults (21+) who say they are drinking less than they were 12 months ago, the most commonly cited reason is simply a reduced desire to drink. Half (50%) say this has contributed to their lower alcohol consumption.

Health concerns are the second most common reason for cutting back, cited by 35% of respondents. Cost follows, with one in five (20%) saying they can no longer afford to drink as much as they previously did.

Beyond the top three reasons, relatively few Americans point to other factors. Around one in ten say their friends or family have started drinking less (11%), while an equal share (11%) cite taking medication as a reason. Smaller proportions mention being afraid of the consequences of drinking (6%), no longer enjoying the taste of alcohol as much (6%), or being advised by a doctor to reduce their alcohol consumption (4%).

Methodology:

YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data through rolling surveys, rather than a single limited questionnaire. Figures are drawn from responses collected between June 2025 and June 2026, using a 52-week dataset updated weekly. Data is nationally representative of adults (18+) in the US and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race.

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