Liquor before beer, best to steer clear? Why people are drinking less these days

27/08/2025 19 min
Liquor before beer, best to steer clear? Why people are drinking less these days

Listen "Liquor before beer, best to steer clear? Why people are drinking less these days"

Episode Synopsis

Have you been at a party recently and found yourself reaching for sparkling water instead of a glass of wine? Join the club.   A new Gallup poll found that Americans are drinking less than ever before. Only 54% of U.S. adults are reporting that they consume alcohol. That’s a record low since the survey company started asking about people’s drinking habits back in 1939.  And young people are drinking less than older Americans, a trend we’re seeing in our region, too: The Seattle Times reports that young people - especially young men - are reporting lower alcohol consumption than other age groups in the area.  We want to know how local businesses are navigating this -- and what could be behind this shift.  Guest: Emily Ritchie, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association. Malcolm Purinton, assistant teaching professor of history at Northeastern University.  Related stories:  U.S. Drinking Rate at New Low as Alcohol Concerns Surge | Gallup  How much do adults in Seattle drink? Here’s what new data shows | The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More episodes of the podcast Soundside