Americans ditch alcohol in record numbers. Gen Z drives collapse in drinking culture. Bars are doomed
By Alex Mark, Gallup’s 2025 Consumption Habits survey shows only 54% of US adults drank alcohol in the past year. That’s down from 62% in 2023 and 58% in 2024 — the lowest share Gallup has ever recorded. https://www.aol.com/us-alcohol-consumption-record-low-103851807.html A slim majority now see drinking as a health risk. 53% say moderate alcohol use is bad for you, up from 45% just a year ago. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/why-many-americans-are-rethinking-alcohol-according-to-a-new-gallup-poll/ar-AA1Krx9A Gen Z is driving the change. 43% of Gen Z adults report no alcohol use at all, citing health concerns, taste aversion, and mental clarity as their main reasons. https://usnewsper.com/2025/08/gen-z-leads-the-way-more-young-people-choosing-not-to-drink/ “Local bars used to be packed after work. Now they’re empty except for Saturdays.” Nobody’s naming the chains trimming weekday hours without notice. Nobody’s modeling the fallout for bartenders, landlords, or state liquor taxes. Nobody’s asking what happens when the social fabric frays before the economic one. The echo is clear. Gen Z isn’t drinking. They also can’t afford to. The numbers are vertical. The foot traffic is horizontal. And the bar tab just flatlined. Source: https://citizenwatchreport.com
By Alex Mark,
Gallup’s 2025 Consumption Habits survey shows only 54% of US adults drank alcohol in the past year. That’s down from 62% in 2023 and 58% in 2024 — the lowest share Gallup has ever recorded.
https://www.aol.com/us-alcohol-consumption-record-low-103851807.html
A slim majority now see drinking as a health risk. 53% say moderate alcohol use is bad for you, up from 45% just a year ago.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/why-many-americans-are-rethinking-alcohol-according-to-a-new-gallup-poll/ar-AA1Krx9A
Gen Z is driving the change. 43% of Gen Z adults report no alcohol use at all, citing health concerns, taste aversion, and mental clarity as their main reasons.
https://usnewsper.com/2025/08/gen-z-leads-the-way-more-young-people-choosing-not-to-drink/
“Local bars used to be packed after work. Now they’re empty except for Saturdays.”
Nobody’s naming the chains trimming weekday hours without notice. Nobody’s modeling the fallout for bartenders, landlords, or state liquor taxes. Nobody’s asking what happens when the social fabric frays before the economic one.
The echo is clear. Gen Z isn’t drinking. They also can’t afford to.
The numbers are vertical. The foot traffic is horizontal. And the bar tab just flatlined.
Source: https://citizenwatchreport.com
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