Alcohol Use Falls Nationwide, But Heavy Drinking Jumps Among Older Adults: USC Study

LOS ANGELES, CA — Alcohol use among U.S. adults has declined for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, though consumption remains above pre-pandemic levels, according to a new Keck Medicine of USC study published Monday.

Researchers found that from 2022 to 2024, overall alcohol use fell by nearly 2%, while heavy drinking dropped by more than 8%. The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzed National Health Interview Survey responses from more than 114,000 U.S. adults between 2018 and 2024, according to USC.

“It’s encouraging to see alcohol use decline for the first time since the start of the pandemic,” said Dr. Brian P. Lee, a Keck Medicine hepatologist and the study’s principal investigator. “However, use remains above pre-pandemic levels and certain groups continue to have concerning trends.”

Adults ages 50 to 64 stood out as one such group. From 2018 to 2024, alcohol use among people in that age range increased by nearly 4%, while heavy drinking rose by more than 36%, researchers found.

Younger adults showed some of the largest declines. Alcohol use among Gen Z adults fell by more than 5% between 2022 and 2024, while millennials saw a 17% decline in heavy drinking.

“These findings suggest that alcohol prevention efforts need to become more tailored to specific populations,” Lee said. “Different groups are showing different patterns of alcohol use, and understanding those differences could help us develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.”