Younger adults who drink are less likely than they were in the past to say they had an alcoholic drink within the past seven days—an indication of being a regular drinker. The 61% who most recently reported having a drink in the past week is down from 64% in 2011 – 2013 and 67% in 2001 – 2003.
Older Americans’ reports have gone in the other direction, with a six-point increase since 2001 – 2003 in drinkers aged 55 and older saying they consumed alcohol in the past week, while middle-aged adults’ drinking reports have been steady.
The net result is that among all Americans (encompassing drinkers and nondrinkers), fewer than four in 10 young adults (38%) now appear to be regular drinkers, on par with older adults (40%) but trailing middle-aged adults (48%). This pattern is a change from two decades ago when younger adults were the most likely to be regular drinkers and older adults the least.
Source: Gallup
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