It’s because they… don’t want to. When Gallup asked in an open-ended question to cite the main reason American non-drinkers don’t drink alcohol, the top answer was that they simply have no desire to or don’t want to (24%). The second most-cited reason? That they don’t care for it, at 16%. Third was that drinking is unhealthy (14%), and another 11% said poor health keeps them from drinking.
I’m curious if this data tells us anything about why flex drinkers choose not to drink when they do. I recently surveyed Dry Atlas readers who also drink alcohol, and physical and mental health topped the list. Three-quarters cited these as motivations for opting for non-alc bevs.
One respondent reminded me that non-alc is not just about what you’re avoiding. It’s also about what you’re gaining. Her primary motivation was “to try new things and find new taste sensations!”
