Beer Consumption: How Much Do People Drink Annually?

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the United States, with 42% of drinkers choosing it as their beverage of choice. In 2018, Americans consumed an estimated 6.3 billion gallons of beer, or about 26.2 gallons per drinking-age adult. This equates to roughly one six-pack per week. Beer consumption patterns vary across the US, with per capita consumption ranging from 18.6 gallons to 40.8 gallons depending on the state. The state with the highest per capita beer consumption is Montana, with 40.8 gallons. The overall US beer consumption per adult age 21 and over is around 28.2 gallons per person, per year.

Beer consumption by state

Beer consumption in the United States varies significantly by state, influenced by factors such as cultural preferences, regulatory environments, and market dynamics. Beer remains the favored alcoholic beverage among Americans, with 42% of drinkers choosing it over wine or liquor.

In 2018, Americans consumed an estimated 6.3 billion gallons of beer, or about 26.2 gallons per drinking-age adult. This equates to approximately 10 ounces per day or roughly one six-pack per week for adults over the age of 21.

Let's take a closer look at beer consumption by state:

North Dakota

North Dakota tops the list for beer consumption, with an average of 45.8 gallons per person per year. The state also has a high excessive drinking rate of 25.9%, and the highest share of roadway fatalities involving alcohol at 46.3%.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire comes in second, benefiting from a lack of alcohol taxation, which attracts drinkers from neighboring states. Its per capita consumption is 43.9 gallons, and it has an excessive drinking rate of 20.1%.

Montana

Montana ranks third, with 41.0 gallons of beer consumed per person per year. Despite its small population, Montana is home to numerous craft breweries. It has an excessive drinking rate of 20.7% and a high share of roadway fatalities involving alcohol at 44.7%.

South Dakota

South Dakota consumes 38.9 gallons of beer per person per year, placing it fourth on the list. It has an excessive drinking rate of 20.2% and a high rate of roadway fatalities involving alcohol at 35.8%.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin rounds out the top five, with an average consumption of 36.2 gallons per person per year. It has the highest rate of excessive drinking at 26.2% and is known for its strong drinking culture, with a high rate of roadway fatalities related to alcohol at 35.8%.

The remaining states in the top ten are Nevada, Vermont, Nebraska, Texas, and Maine, all with per capita consumption ranging from 35.8 gallons to 34 gallons.

It is worth noting that while some states have lower per capita consumption, they may have higher rates of excessive drinking or other unhealthy drinking habits. Additionally, beer consumption data from different years may show variations due to changes in consumption patterns and trends over time.

Beer consumption by country

Beer is the third most popular drink in the world, with water and tea taking the top spots. Beer is also the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage on Earth.

The country that consumes the most beer per capita is the Czech Republic, with 140.12 litres consumed per person in 2021. In 2022, this figure was 188.5 litres, keeping the Czech Republic in the top spot. Austria was ranked second in 2022, with 101.2 litres consumed per capita.

China consumes the greatest total volume of beer, with 34,979 thousand tons consumed in 2021. In 2022, global beer consumption stood at approximately 192.1 million kiloliters, with China remaining the largest beer-consuming country for the 20th consecutive year.

In the United States, beer consumption is not uniform across the country. In 2018, per capita consumption ranged from as little as 18.6 gallons to 40.8 gallons, depending on the state. In 2021, the US ranked 24th in the world for beer consumption per capita, with 72.89 litres.

Beer consumption patterns

Montana, for example, has the highest per capita consumption at 40.8 gallons, while Utah has the lowest at 18.6 gallons. Other states with high per capita consumption include North Dakota (45.8 gallons), New Hampshire (43.9 gallons), and South Dakota (38.9 gallons). On the other hand, states with lower consumption rates include Connecticut (20 gallons), New Jersey (20.1 gallons), and Maryland (19.6 gallons).

These differences in consumption patterns can be attributed to a variety of factors, including cultural norms, availability, and economic factors. For instance, some states may have a stronger beer culture or a higher number of breweries, which could contribute to higher consumption rates. Additionally, economic factors such as income and beer prices can also play a role in influencing consumption patterns.

While beer is the favored beverage among American drinkers, with 42% choosing it over wine or liquor, it's important to note that higher per capita consumption does not necessarily indicate unhealthy or dangerous drinking habits. However, states with higher per capita beer consumption tend to have higher rates of binge drinking and heavy drinking, which can lead to various negative consequences, including injuries and road fatalities.

Beer production rates

Even the lowest producers on the list, such as Ukraine and the Philippines, contribute substantially to global beer production, each crafting over 5 billion 12 oz. beers per year.

When it comes to consumption, the top three producers—China, the United States, and Brazil—also dominate the consumption charts. China leads the way, consuming a staggering 113 billion bottles of beer annually, while the United States consumes approximately 67.5 billion. Brazil's consumption is notably lower in comparison, at just over half of China's consumption.

Interestingly, Mexico, the fourth-largest consumer of beer, produces far more beer than it consumes, with a surplus of 2.4 million kiloliters. In contrast, the United States consumes far more than it produces, with a deficit of 2.18 million kiloliters per year. The United Kingdom achieves a near-perfect balance, consuming almost exactly as much beer as it produces, with only a 100-kiloliter surplus.

Alcohol abuse levels

Moderate drinking is defined as consuming one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men. However, current research suggests that even this level of consumption can have negative effects on a person's health.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks on a single occasion for women and five or more drinks for men. Binge drinking causes more than half of the alcohol-related deaths in the US and increases the risk of falls, burns, car crashes, memory blackouts, medication interactions, assaults, drownings, and overdose deaths.

Heavy drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks on any day or eight or more drinks per week for women, and five or more drinks on any day or 15 or more drinks per week for men. Heavy drinking increases the risk of acute harms such as falls and medication interactions, as well as chronic consequences such as AUD and dose-dependent increases in liver disease, heart disease, and cancers.

AUD is characterised by alcohol consumption that causes distress and harm in a person's life. It can cause cravings, loss of control over drinking, and a negative emotional state when unable to drink. AUD can range from mild to severe and affect around 18 million people in the US.

It is important to note that alcohol abuse levels are not uniform across the US, with some states having significantly higher per capita beer consumption than others. Additionally, higher than average per capita beer consumption does not necessarily indicate unhealthy or dangerous drinking habits. However, states with higher per capita beer consumption tend to have higher rates of unhealthy drinking habits and alcohol-related fatalities.

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