U.S. alcohol use falls for first time since the COVID-19 pandemic but remains above pre-pandemic levels
Alcohol use among U.S. adults has fallen for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, though rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to a new Keck Medicine of USC study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
A Keck Medicine of USC study published in Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that alcohol use among U.S. adults decreased for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, although it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. From 2022 to 2024, any alcohol consumption dropped by nearly 2%, while heavy drinking decreased by more than 8%, marking the first confirmed reduction in alcohol consumption since the pandemic began.
Brian P. Lee, MD, a hepatologist and principal investigator of the study, emphasized the significance of this national decline, stating that it should not overshadow the ongoing risk for certain groups. Among age groups, adults aged 50-64 continued to drink at higher rates than before the pandemic, with a 36% increase in heavy drinking from 2018 to 2024.
This age group faces a greater risk of alcohol-related conditions like liver disease, certain cancers, and cardiovascular disease. The study also noted that heavy drinking among this demographic increased by more than a third since 2018. While men experienced a larger reduction in any alcohol use compared to women, women saw a greater decline in heavy drinking.
Gen Z adults saw the largest decrease in any alcohol consumption, while millennials experienced the greatest decrease in heavy drinking. The researchers suggest that alcohol prevention efforts need to be tailored to different populations due to the varying patterns observed.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
