Problem Drinking Declines in the US

Americans appear to be rethinking their relationship with booze. A federal survey finds the share of people 12 and older who meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder dropped from 10.6% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2025, a decline of about 4 million people, reports the New York Times. Most of the change is among those with milder forms of the disorder, which experts say still adds up to a significant public health gain.

Researchers point to shifting social norms, rising awareness of alcohol's health risks, and possible cannabis substitution as drivers. The trend comes as the federal government pulls back on alcohol-focused public health efforts, softening drinking guidelines and cutting alcohol programs at agencies like the CDC—moves some experts warn could slow or reverse the progress. As it is, an estimated 178,000 people die annually in the US from excessive alcohol use, notes a post at Charlie Health.