Excessive drinking falls

“The share of American drinkers who say they sometimes overindulge has fallen to a record low. In a July 2026 Gallup survey, 13 percent of US adults who drink alcohol said they sometimes drink more than they think they should, down from a high of 35 percent in 1989. The share of US adults who drink at all remains at a record low of 54 percent,” reports The Doomslayer.

“The share of Americans who say they drink alcohol remains at a record-low 54% for the second consecutive year, the lowest reading in Gallup’s trend dating back to 1939…As overall drinking has declined, the percentage of Americans who say they sometimes drink too much has also fallen, reaching a new low of 13%. Before 2000, more than 20% of Americans routinely reported overdrinking, including a record-high 35% in 1989.”

Teen drug and alcohol abuse reached a record low.

A weight-loss drug cuts alcohol abuse. “A recently published randomized controlled trial found that the GLP-1 drug semaglutide substantially reduced alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers compared to a placebo.”

Obesity has finally stopped rising in America, thanks to anti-obesity drugs.

According to a 2024 survey, 26% of 10th graders reported alcohol consumption, down from 65% in 1997. 42% of 12th graders reported alcohol consumption, compared to 75% in 1997 and 90% in the 1970s. 13% of eighth graders reported alcohol consumption, down from 56% in 1997.

Marijuana consumption fell to 26% for 12th graders and 16% for 10th graders.

Nicotine vaping was reported by 21% of 12th graders, compared to 35% in 2020. (Note that this does not mean that 21% of 12th graders vaped regularly, only that they vaped in the last 12 months. These figures are for usage in the last 12 months.)