Arabella Franco
Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the US, with 42% of drinkers choosing it as their favourite tipple. 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 10 ounces of beer per day, or one six-pack per week. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, men should not exceed two drinks per day, and women should not exceed one. However, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has found that the average American consumes 1.35 drinks per day, or 9.5 drinks per week.
What You'll Learn
Beer consumption varies across US states
These disparities in beer consumption across states can be influenced by various factors, including cultural preferences, demographics, and local regulations. Regional differences in alcohol tax rates and tourism can also impact the state-level consumption estimates.
While beer is the preferred alcoholic beverage among American drinkers, with 42% choosing it as their drink of choice, the overall consumption of beer in the US has been on a downward trajectory since its peak in 1981. In contrast, wine consumption has been steadily increasing, eroding beer's share of the total alcohol consumption in the country.
It is worth noting that excessive drinking, including binge drinking and heavy drinking, remains a concern in the US, with higher-than-average per capita beer consumption often coinciding with higher rates of unhealthy drinking habits. The negative consequences of excessive alcohol consumption extend beyond individual health risks, as evidenced by the alarming number of roadway fatalities involving alcohol each year.
To address these issues, organizations like the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine provide guidelines and resources to promote healthy drinking habits and support those struggling with addiction.
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Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the US
While wine and spirits also have their fans, they lag behind beer in terms of popularity. Wine is preferred by 34% of drinkers, while just 19% opt for liquor as their drink of choice. The overall consumption of beer in the US has seen a slight decline since its peak in 1981 when the average American drank 36.7 gallons. By 2021, this figure had dropped to 26.5 gallons per person.
Beer consumption patterns vary across the US, with some states showing a higher preference for beer than others. North Dakota, New Hampshire, and Montana top the list, with per capita consumption of 45.8, 43.9, and 41.0 gallons, respectively. On the other hand, states like Utah, New Jersey, and Connecticut have lower per capita consumption, ranging from 20.2 to 22.4 gallons.
It's worth noting that the popularity of beer doesn't necessarily indicate unhealthy drinking habits. However, states with higher per capita beer consumption tend to have higher rates of excessive drinking and related issues such as driving under the influence.
While beer is the preferred alcoholic beverage for Americans, it's important to keep in mind that a significant portion of the population abstains from alcohol entirely. According to a 2023 Gallup survey, 38% of US adults abstain from alcohol, with their reasons ranging from a lack of desire to health concerns and past negative experiences.
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Americans are drinking less beer than they used to
The overall decline in beer consumption in the US is also evident whensection is broken down by state. For example, in North Dakota, the state with the highest per capita consumption, residents drank 45.8 gallons of beer per year. In contrast, the state with the lowest consumption, Utah, had an estimated per capita consumption of 20.2 gallons. However, it is important to note that these numbers can be influenced by various factors, such as sales to people from neighboring states and alcohol consumption by tourists.
The shift away from beer is not just a matter of preference, but also one of health and safety. Excessive drinking, including binge drinking and heavy drinking, is associated with short-term risks such as injuries and motor vehicle crashes. In 2017, alcohol-impaired driving claimed nearly 11,000 lives on American roadways, and states with higher per capita beer consumption tend to have higher rates of unhealthy drinking habits.
Despite the decrease in beer consumption, Americans are not necessarily drinking less alcohol overall. Data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) shows that Americans have been consuming more alcohol in recent years. In 2021, the average American age 21 or older consumed 2.83 gallons of pure alcohol, equivalent to about 603 "standard drinks." This increase in alcohol consumption is driven by a rise in wine consumption, which has gone up from 3.2 gallons per person annually in 1970 to 3.8 gallons in 2021.
While Americans are drinking less beer, the overall alcohol consumption and its associated risks continue to be a public health concern. The NIAAA estimates that alcohol use causes about 88,000 deaths annually, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the US.
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Average consumption is 1.35 drinks per day
According to Aaron White, a senior scientific advisor to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism director, the average American consumes 1.35 drinks per day, 9.5 drinks per week, and 494 drinks per year. This is based on per capita consumption from alcoholic beverage sales data. However, this number changes when adjusted for age and considering only adults aged 18 and older, who make up the majority of the nation's drinkers. In this case, the average daily consumption rises to 1.94 drinks per day, 13.6 drinks per week, and 705 drinks per year.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that women should have no more than one drink per day and men should not exceed two drinks per day. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks on a single occasion for women and five or more for men, while heavy drinking is defined as eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more for men. Excessive alcohol consumption, including binge and heavy drinking, can lead to various health issues and is a preventable cause of death.
Beer is the favoured beverage among American drinkers, with 42% preferring it over wine (34%) and liquor (19%). The overall beer consumption per adult age 21 and over is around 28.2 gallons per person per year, which equates to about 10 ounces per day or roughly one six-pack per week. Beer consumption patterns vary across different states, with per capita consumption ranging from as little as 18.6 gallons to 40.8 gallons.
While Americans have been consuming more alcohol in recent years, there has been a shift in their drinking preferences. Since 1970, beer consumption has decreased, wine consumption has increased, and distilled spirits consumption has slightly dropped. In 2021, the average American age 21 or older consumed 2.83 gallons of pure alcohol, which is equivalent to about 603 "standard drinks."
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Excessive drinking is linked to health and safety risks
According to a Gallup poll, about 63% of American adults drink alcohol, with 42% preferring beer. The average American adult drinks about 26.2 gallons of beer per year, or about 10 ounces per day. However, this can vary by state, with North Dakota having the highest per-capita consumption at 45.8 gallons, and Washington, D.C., having the lowest at 18.6 gallons.
The health risks of excessive drinking include injuries, violence, alcohol poisoning, and overdose. Long-term excessive drinking increases the risk of several types of cancer, high blood pressure, alcohol use disorder, and a weaker immune system. It can also lead to social and wellness issues such as mental health conditions, learning and memory problems, and relationship difficulties.
Excessive drinking can also impair judgment and increase the risk of accidents, including motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns. In the United States, alcohol-impaired driving claimed nearly 11,000 lives in 2017.
To reduce health risks, it is recommended to limit alcohol consumption to low-risk levels, which is defined as no more than 14 units of alcohol per week for both men and women. It is also advised to spread drinking over three or more days and have several drink-free days each week.
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Frequently asked questions
The average American drinks roughly 1.35 drinks per day, or 9.5 drinks per week. This is higher when adjusting for age (looking at just adults 18 and older, the majority of the nation's drinkers), with an average of 1.94 drinks per day, or 13.6 per week.
In terms of beer consumption, the average American over the age of 21 consumes about 10 ounces of beer per day, or roughly one six-pack per week. This equates to 26.2 gallons of beer per drinking-age adult per year, or 28.2 gallons per adult age 21 and over.
Beer consumption patterns are not uniform across the US. In 2018, per capita beer consumption ranged from as little as 18.6 gallons to 40.8 gallons, depending on the state. In 2023, the state with the highest per capita beer consumption was North Dakota, with 45.8 gallons, followed by New Hampshire with 43.9 gallons, and Montana with 41.0 gallons.
Excessive drinking among adults falls into one of two primary categories: binge drinking and heavy drinking. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks on a single occasion for women and five or more for men. Heavy drinking is defined as eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more for men.
