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.”