American adults are drinking alcohol at a historically low rate, according to an annual Gallup poll that tracks consumption. In the study, 54% of those polled say they drink alcohol, an all-time low since the Gallup polling began in 1939.

Up until 2023, at least 60% reported consuming alcohol. That figure fell to 58% last year before dropping yet again by 4%, per the study. The next lowest percentage recorded was 55% in 1955.

Women report drinking at a more diminished rate than men. The percentage of women who reported drinking alcohol was down by 11% to just 51% compared to 2023, while the male percentage was down by five percentage points at 57%. Drinking is also down 11 percentage points in white adults since 2023.

The percentage of young adults who report consuming alcohol continues to fall, a trend since the mid-2010s. That percentage is now at 50%, down a full 9% since 2023. This trend – along with the rise of THC products –  is widely believed to be closely associated with the reports of falling sales of bourbon.

However, Gallup reports, “Declines in alcohol consumption do not appear to be caused by people shifting to other mood-altering substances — in particular, recreational marijuana, which is now legal in about half of U.S. states.” 

The report does say marijuana use has continued to rise over the past decade, it hasn’t risen significantly over the past four years. 

This year’s poll suggests that the falling percentage of people who report using alcohol is tied to health-related reasons. For the first time, a majority of Americans – 53% – say they believe drinking in moderation is bad for personal health. Meanwhile, only 6% say it’s good for one’s health. 

As recently as 2018, just 28% said they believed moderate drinking – one to two drinks per day – was unhealthful. In 2023, the percentage had risen to 45%. Gallup notes that from 2001-2011, the percentage of people who believed moderate drinking was unhealthful was consistently around 25%. Meanwhile, women were more likely to believe moderate drinking is unhealthy than were men, 60% to 47%.

Additionally, younger adults are driving the belief that moderate drinking is bad for one’s health, with roughly two thirds holding this belief.

Read more: InvestBev Founder Believes Whiskey Market Slowdown is Temporary