Steady and Sober

Periodically I get asked, sicne I work at a treatment facility, if we have seen an increase in treatment needs since the recession has started. Well, the answer is no. Things have been about normal. I came across this earlier this week in an email newsletter I get.

Drinking Habits Steady Amid Recession
Sixty-four percent drink, unchanged; beer is still the preferred beverage
Gallup by Lydia Saad
June 29, 2009

PRINCETON, NJ -- Despite some anecdotal reports of a surge in drinking accompanying the economic recession, Gallup's annual update on alcohol consumption finds little change in Americans' drinking habits. The percentage of U.S. adults who consume alcohol is fairly steady at 64%, and there has been little change in self-reported drinking volume.

The June survey interviewed over 1,000 adults nationwide and had a sampling error of three percent.

According to the June 14-17 Gallup Poll, the prevalence of drinking in the U.S. adult population is essentially unchanged compared with a year ago. Sixty-four percent of Americans tell Gallup they "have occasion to use alcoholic beverages." This falls within the narrow 62% to 66% range seen over the past decade.

See the full release at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/121277/Drinking-Habits-Steady-Amid-Recession.aspx

Several things to note:

• At this point it does not appear that a recession causes an increase in drinking. Now that may change if a person is out of work longer, doesn't have a family, or has other issues that the recession will make worse.
• No, the number of drinks is not increasing. The percentage of heavy drinkers remains about the same at around 14%.
• And perhaps the biggest surprise for those who don't know about these things, 36% respond that they abstain from alcohol. 36%. More than one-third of all Americans do not drink at all.

Ponder those figures next time someone says "Well, everyone drinks."