Alcohol use among U.S. adults has fallen for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but one age group is moving in the opposite direction. Heavy drinking among adults ages 50 to 64 rose by more than 36% from 2018 to 2024, according to a Keck Medicine of USC study published Sept. 21 in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Nationally, any alcohol use fell by nearly 2% and heavy drinking by more than 8% between 2022 and 2024. Drinking remains above pre-pandemic levels.