Most American veterans are drinking less than they were a decade ago. One group is moving the other way.
An analysis of federal survey data from 2016 through 2024 found binge drinking declined modestly among veterans overall, from 15.8 percent to 14.6 percent, with significant decreases among those aged 18 to 34 and those aged 65 to 80. Heavy drinking held roughly steady across the veteran population as a whole. Among veterans aged 35 to 49, it rose from 7.4 percent to 9.6 percent.