For the first time since Eisenhower was president, Americans are putting down the bottle at record rates.

Only 54% of Americans say they drink alcohol, according to new Gallup data—the lowest percentage since 1958. That one-point drop from previous lows might seem tiny, but it signals a massive cultural shift in how we view booze.

It seems people finally believe what scientists have been screaming for years: alcohol is bad for you. Period.

The Science Finally Stuck

Remember when red wine was supposedly good for your heart? Well, about that…

"For quite some time, there's been this heavy focus on heavy drinking or binge drinking," said Sarah Dermody, a psychology professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. But now scientists realize those "healthy moderate drinker" studies were garbage.

Turns out, people who didn't drink often had health problems that made them skip alcohol—not the other way around. Once researchers controlled for those factors, the truth emerged: any amount of alcohol increases your risk of cancer, depression, and anxiety.

No amount is safe. Not your craft beer. Not your wine with dinner. Nothing.

Young People Lead the Charge

Gen Z and younger millennials are driving this shift. Only 50% of 18-to-34-year-olds drink, compared to 56% of older adults. Even more telling: 66% of young people think moderate drinking is harmful, versus about 50% of their elders.

"They grew up with that safe-level messaging, whereas a lot of us did not," explained Sara McMullin, a psychology professor at Webster University.

These kids watched their parents' generation glorify Wine Mom culture and Beer Dad jokes. They're not buying it. Instead, they're embracing Dry January, Sober October, and ordering mocktails without shame.

Money Talks, Booze Walks

Let's be real: alcohol is expensive. A decent cocktail costs $15 in most cities. A six-pack of craft beer runs $12. For young people drowning in student loans and fighting for entry-level jobs, drinking becomes a luxury they can't afford.

"Alcohol can be perceived as something that's more of a luxury and not a necessity," McMullin said. When you're choosing between groceries and going out, the choice is obvious.

Plus, young people don't socialize in person like previous generations. Why spend $50 at a bar when you can hang out on Discord for free?

The Gender Gap Widens

Women are abandoning alcohol faster than men. Female drinking dropped 11 percentage points since 2023, while men's only fell five points.

The preferences split predictably: 44% of women prefer wine (versus 14% of men), while 52% of men choose beer (versus 23% of women). But beyond the stereotypes lies something deeper.

McMullin theorizes women tend to be more health-conscious and turn to friends when stressed. Men? They bottle up emotions and reach for a bottle instead.

Dermody thinks it's simpler: "Alcohol is more integral to activities popular among men, like sports." Try watching football without beer ads. You can't.

Is Weed the New Booze?

Gallup claims marijuana use remains "fairly steady," suggesting people aren't swapping alcohol for weed. But Yale professor Gail D'Onofrio disagrees.

Federal data shows marijuana use rising among people over 26 since 2021, though it's dropping for the 18-25 crowd. The problem? Nobody knows what responsible weed use looks like.

"One kind of knows what a standard drink is," D'Onofrio said. "I can't tell you how much to take. I can't tell you about what's in a gummy."

Where We're Headed

Every expert agrees: drinking will keep declining. The health risks are too clear, the social pressure too weak, and the alternatives too available.

But Dermody urges caution: "I would just be cautious to call it a trend or a shift until we have a few more of these polls."

Fair enough. But when young people increasingly see alcohol as their parents' drug—expensive, unhealthy, and unnecessary—the writing's on the wall. Or rather, not on the bar tab.

The New Normal

America's relationship with alcohol is changing. We're not becoming prohibitionists, but we're finally questioning why every social event revolves around drinking. Why every celebration needs champagne. Why "grabbing drinks" is the default hangout.

The 46% who don't drink aren't missing out anymore. They're saving money, avoiding hangovers, and probably living longer. In a culture that once mocked sobriety as boring, that's revolutionary.