People are drinking less, here's why (and our Alcohol Toolkit download)

Even though it’s the Holiday Season, Americans are drinking less — and it’s not just a trend. It’s biology.

New Gallup data shows only 54% of U.S. adults drink alcohol right now — the lowest level in Gallup’s ~90-year tracking. Even more telling? 53% of Americans now believe “moderate” drinking is unhealthy (that’s a first).

So what’s changing?

A lot of people are finally connecting the dots between alcohol and how they actually feel:

1) Sleep (the “I fall asleep… but wake up at 2am” effect)

Alcohol can feel sedating at first, but it’s linked to disrupted sleep architecture and reduced REM—the stage tied to mood, memory, and emotional resilience.

2) Hormones (women feel this fast)

Alcohol can disrupt endocrine signaling and is associated with hormonal disturbances—often showing up as PMS flares, anxiety, hot flashes, libido changes, or “wired-tired” sleep.

3) Metabolism (fat-burning gets “paused”)

Your body prioritizes metabolizing alcohol first. Heavy intake is associated with higher triglycerides and decreased insulin sensitivity, which matters if you’re working on weight, cravings, or blood sugar stability.

4) Liver function (your main detox hub)

Alcohol-related fatty liver (steatosis) is the earliest sign of liver injury and is often reversible when alcohol stops—but it’s a real “check engine light” many people ignore.

And yes—cancer risk is part of this conversation now. The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory highlights a causal link between alcohol and at least seven cancers.

Gallup also found that even among people who still drink, patterns are shifting: only 24% of drinkers had alcohol in the last 24 hours, and the average is 2.8 drinks/week.

If you’ve been questioning your relationship with alcohol, you’re not alone — and you’re not “weak.”

You’re paying attention.

Want my “damage-control” tips for the occasional drink (sleep + blood sugar + next-day recovery)?

I’ll drop it below:

Link to poll:

https://news.gallup.com/.../drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol ...

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