One of the purposes of this infrequent column is to bring an appreciation for the crafts of production with our recreational beverages. I am here today to hypothesize that I have failed in that mission. Not to suggest I am an influencer by goal, but it is still somewhat unsettling to see the data showing that I am not, in fact, swaying minds and livers from this pedestal.
It has long been a point of amusement for me to hear others declaring that Republicans, in general, are a repressed group against fun and vice. As an example of how off-target this charge has been, I cite a CPAC conference from a few years back. While held in Orlando that year, it was discovered here at RedState that the hotel where the conference was staged was not going to have its lounge opened until late in the afternoon.
After Scott Hounsell and I commiserated, he reached out to a GOP operative who contacted the hotel management about cracking open those doors earlier in the day. At first unsettled over the proposal, the management adjusted, and on day one, after I concluded one broadcast around noon, I went to the sprawling lounge to see that it was filled, as were the outdoor tables where more crowds were seen.
But this may be a condition in a state of severe flux. Gallup has come out with polling data that shows Americans are turning away from the practice of sampling adult potables. For the first time in its 90 years of measuring this particular metric, the amount of adults saying they enjoy alcoholic beverages - beer, wine, and/liquor - has fallen below 55 percent. This new measurement is an all-time low, and the fascinating details are in the rate of this drop and the reasoning.
This drop was not driven by one particular group, as we see dips in consumption among many demographics in just the last couple of years. Women are down -11%, men -5%, and white adults in general -11%. Young adults, a normally enthusiastic tippling demographic, are a bit of an eye-opener as they have not only fallen nine points to 50 percent in that time, but they are now drinking at a rate below that of middle-aged and older drinkers.
But the biggest surprise is seen with one of the bigger drops in this poll, concerning our own kind. Since 2023, Republicans saying they enjoy alcoholic drinks has plunged a jarring 19 points, from 64 percent down to less than half. Today, far fewer Republicans attest to drinking (46 percent) than Democrats (holding steady at 60 percent). Just what is going on?
One thing that seems not to apply is a common factor in measuring drinking behavior: economics. And Gallup notes that this is not the result of a shift to other recreational options, such as marijuana. Instead, what is clearly driving this downward trend is the belief held by many that any consumption of alcohol is regarded as unhealthy.
The consecutive declines in Americans’ reported drinking the past few years are unmatched in Gallup’s trend and coincide with recent research indicating that any level of alcohol consumption may negatively affect health. This has been a sharp reversal from previous recommendations that moderate drinking could offer some protective benefits.
For the first time measured, over half of the respondents (53 percent) believe that even drinking in moderation has adverse health effects, while 37 percent say there is little to no difference. But I will aver there could be more at play. Not to dismiss the findings or dispute these results, there is room for interpretation.
I look at the party specifics and the stark difference jumps off the screen. That the Republicans have a near 20-point drop in consumption, while Democrats hold relatively steady, speaks to something. This could reflect the political mindset being felt differently by the two parties over the past few years.
As Joe Biden’s mental faculties were breaking down, he was taking down the party in the process. The anxiety this produced within his party could lead to those relying upon the palliative potables, as the anguish over diminishing fortunes was being realized. Meanwhile, Republicans might have been focusing on how to combat the forces being experienced; they needed to be of sober mind to accomplish success.
Now, with President Trump prevailing and Democrats sinking deeper into irrelevancy, that focus is on getting the work accomplished. Possibly in the coming years, we might see the GOP returning to the taverns to celebrate the regained power and success.
