Americans' Favorite Beverage: Beer Or Wine?

Alcohol preferences vary in the US, but beer has been the most popular alcoholic drink for over two decades. According to a Gallup poll, 42% of Americans who drink alcohol prefer beer, while 34% chose wine and 19% chose liquor. Another Gallup poll from 2021 showed that 39% of drinkers preferred beer, 31% preferred wine, and 27% preferred liquor. However, alcohol consumption in the US is on a downward trend, with 60% of adults reporting drinking alcohol, down from 65% in 2019.

Beer is the top-consumed alcoholic beverage in the US

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the US, with Americans citing its unique flavour profile, bitterness, and social associations as reasons for their preference. While wine and liquor are close contenders, beer has consistently been the drink of choice for Americans since the 1990s.

Americans Love Their Beer

Beer is deeply ingrained in American drinking culture and has been the preferred alcoholic beverage for decades. According to Gallup, 41% of US drinkers say they typically drink beer, compared to 31% who prefer wine and 23% who choose liquor. This preference for beer has been consistent since Gallup began tracking this question in 1992, with only a brief period between 2011 and 2013 when wine and beer were essentially tied.

The bitter taste of beer is often cited as a reason for its popularity, as some people acquire a taste for it over time. Beer also offers a unique flavour profile, ranging from malty to fruity to peppery, depending on the type. Additionally, beer's low alcohol content allows for casual drinking without the risk of getting drunk quickly, making it a perfect beverage for social gatherings and celebrations.

Demographics and Drinking Habits

Men are more likely than women to choose beer, with 57% of men opting for beer over other alcoholic drinks. Younger drinkers, especially young men, also show a strong preference for beer, with 38% citing it as their preferred drink. On average, young men consume 22.8 drinks per month, compared to 11.3 drinks consumed by women in the same period. Beer is also more popular among higher-income and more educated Americans, with those in households earning $75,000 or more per year showing an increased preference for beer in recent years.

Beer's Social Aspect

Beer is often associated with positive feelings and social gatherings. Many people enjoy the casual nature of drinking beer with friends, at sports games, or at parties. The social aspect of beer drinking is a significant contributor to its popularity, as alcohol has a long history as a social drink.

Beer's Place in the Market

The beer market in the US is thriving, with a growing number of breweries and craft beer options. While wine and liquor have gained popularity in recent years, beer remains the top-consumed alcoholic beverage. With its diverse range of flavours, accessibility, and social appeal, beer continues to be the drink of choice for many Americans.

Beer is more popular with men

While beer and wine are both popular drinks in the US, beer is the preferred drink for Americans overall, and this preference is even more pronounced among men.

A 2024 YouGov survey found that almost two-thirds of American drinkers (67%) say they consume alcohol, and of these, nearly a third (30%) say beer is their favourite type of alcohol, followed by 29% who prefer wine and 25% who prefer liquor. A similar Gallup survey in 2024 found that 41% of US drinkers say they typically drink beer, compared to 31% who prefer wine and 23% who prefer spirits.

When we look at the breakdown by gender, the difference in preferences between men and women becomes clear. In the YouGov survey, more than two-thirds of men (64%) said they consume alcohol, and of these, 37% said they typically drink beer, compared to 22% of women. A Gallup survey in 2019 showed that 38% of people preferred beer, and this rose to 57% of men, while almost half of women (44%) chose wine.

Beer is also more popular with younger drinkers, while older drinkers tend to prefer wine. A Maritz AmeriPoll survey found that young men are the biggest drinkers, consuming an average of 22.8 drinks a month, compared to 11.3 drinks consumed by women in the same period.

Beer's bitter taste is often cited as a reason for its popularity, as is its low alcohol content, which allows people to enjoy more drinks without getting drunk quickly, making it perfect for casual parties. Beer also has a unique flavour profile, with different types offering tastes ranging from malty to fruity to peppery.

Wine is more popular with women

While beer is the more popular alcoholic drink overall in the US, wine is the preferred drink for almost half of American women. A 2024 Gallup poll found that 44% of women chose wine, compared to just 15% who opted for beer.

The reasons for this preference could be down to a few factors. Firstly, wine is seen as a healthier option. Wine contains antioxidants and polyphenols, which can protect the body from cancer-causing cells and benefit the heart. Wine also has excellent anti-aging properties. Secondly, wine has a higher alcohol content than beer. A standard glass of wine (5 ounces) contains around 15% ABV, compared to a standard can or bottle of beer (12 ounces) which has 7% ABV. This means that it takes fewer drinks of wine to get drunk, which can be an attractive prospect for women who are often smaller in stature than men and therefore require less alcohol to feel its effects. Finally, wine is often seen as a more sophisticated or classy drink, and this may appeal more to women than men.

Wine is also the preferred drink of older Americans, with those over the age of 65 saying they drank wine more often. This could be because wine is associated with being a more relaxed drink, often enjoyed at home or with a meal, which may be more appealing to an older demographic.

While beer is the overall favourite alcoholic drink in the US, with 30-38% of people naming it as their top choice, wine is a close second at 29-31%.

Beer is the third most popular drink overall in the US

Beer is particularly popular with younger drinkers, with 84% of those surveyed saying they had drunk it in the past month. Young men are the biggest beer drinkers, consuming an average of 22.8 drinks a month, compared to 11.3 drinks for women. Beer is also more popular with men than women, with 53% of men saying they most frequently drank beer, compared to 22% of women.

Beer's popularity can be attributed to its flavour profile, with drinkers enjoying its bitter taste and the variety of flavours available, from malty to fruity to peppery. Beer is also a social drink, often consumed at casual parties or with friends, and its low alcohol content means people can enjoy more drinks without getting drunk quickly.

While beer is the third most popular drink in the US, wine is catching up. In 2005, wine briefly became more popular than beer, and since then the two drinks have been neck and neck in terms of popularity. However, beer remains the most frequently consumed drink, with 37% of respondents in one survey saying they drink it "most often", followed by 31% for liquor and 29% for wine.

Americans are drinking less beer than they did in the early 2000s

While beer is still the most popular alcoholic drink in the US, Americans are drinking less beer than they did in the early 2000s.

According to Gallup, in 2024, 41% of US drinkers say they typically drink beer, compared with 31% who generally prefer wine and 23% who reach for liquor. While these numbers show that beer is still the most popular alcoholic drink in the US, the preference for beer has been declining. In 2014, beer was the preferred drink of 42% of drinkers, while wine was preferred by 34% and liquor by 19%. In 2011 and 2013, beer's popularity fell to its lowest reading on record at 36%.

Beer's popularity has historically been driven by its unique flavour profile, bitterness, and low alcohol content, making it a casual drink for parties and social gatherings. However, in recent years, liquor has gained on wine as an increasingly popular go-to beverage, with 31% of drinkers saying that some kind of liquor was their favourite alcoholic drink in 2024, the highest percentage on record by Gallup.

The shift away from beer may be influenced by changing preferences among younger Americans. While beer is still the most popular drink among the youngest age group (18-34), liquor is gaining in popularity. Additionally, older Americans (50-64) have also shown an increased preference for beer, with a nine-percentage-point increase in this demographic from 2011 to 2018.

Despite the changing preferences, beer remains a significant part of American culture, with Budweiser and Heineken being the top two beer brands in terms of awareness and consideration among American drinkers.

Frequently asked questions