Satnam S. Athwal
The per capita consumption of alcohol continued to show steady decline in the United States since 1959. The experts feel that the decline in spirits consumption may be represented in changes in the drinking patterns and preferences in drinking among aged population. The decline in per capita alcohol consumption maybe contributed by greater interest in alcoholic beverages with reduced alcohol content like light beer and wine coolers, as well as increased public awareness regarding physical fitness, nutrition and education regarding serious physical and psychosocial complications associated with alcohol abuse. Strict drunk driving laws enacted by various states also seem to have contributed to lesser alcohol consumption.
Although, two thirds of U.S adult population drinks alcohol beverages, alcohol consumption is unevenly distributed throughout the drinking population. Ten percent of drinkers, (6.5% of adult population) account for half of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
Apparent per capita consumption of alcohol from all beverages combined increased annually from 1977 to 1980, leveled in 1980 and 1981 then declined to 2.58 gallons in 1986 a 2.3% decrease from 1977,
Article extracted from this publication >> January 26, 1990
