US Ethyl Alcohol Consumption in Beverages

The per capita (average consumed by each person) consumption of alcohol by people 15 and older in the United States has not substantially changed in the years 1850 to 1998 (last year of data).

In 1998 the apparent per capita consumption was 2.19 gallons of ethanol in beverages. In 1850 this amount was 2.10 gallons. Not surprisingly most of this ethanol consumption is in the form of beer 1.25 gallons, followed by spirits (0.63 gallons) and then wine 0.31 gallons. Interestingly about 35% of adults don’t drink ethanol, therefore the amount of ethanol consumed by the individuals who do drink is actually higher than those figures presented above. Men drink more ethanol than women. For example in 1994, 70% of men were drinkers, but only 61% of women.

Note: These figures express consumption of alcohol - not of the beverage in which the alcohol is contained. For example, the average per capita consumption of alcohol in beer is .63 gallon. If the alcohol content of beer is 6% - that is about correct - then the average per capita consumption of beer is:

gal.beer = gal. alc/.06 = ~10 gal.beer

Even if you don’t drink, alcohol abuse has a substantial impact on you and your family. The costs associated with alcohol use, abuse, dependence are enormous and impact each and every one of us. The approximate costs to the nation and thus to you as an individual who pays taxes are given in the table below. The total of alcohol and related drug costs to our society amount to more than $275 billion per year - about $1,000 for every man, woman and child in the nation.