Homepage / Health

Related To Story
BINGE DRINKING
FROM OUR PARTNERS

Americans Chug Less Alcohol, Study Says

50-Year Study Finds Beer Drinking Drop

POSTED: 5:47 am PDT August 6, 2008

Trying to find someone to join you in a drink? It may be harder than it used to be.

Americans are drinking less, according to a report in the August issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

Mostly, they're drinking less beer, as the consumption of wine goes up and hard liquor stays about the same.

Researchers found that people born later in the 20th century tend to drink more moderately than those that came before and that alcohol consumption drops as people age.

For example, researchers looked at how much people born in 20 year spans drank when they were between 30 and 59 years old. Those born earliest, from 1900 to 1919, drank an average of 30.6 grams of alcohol a day. Those born from 1920 to 1939 drank 25.5 grams a day, and Baby Boomers born between 1940 and 1959 drank 21 grams a day.

And more people now say they are non-drinkers, according to a news release.

The information came from examining the Framingham Heart Study, which has followed 8,000 people, some for more than 50 years.

While heavy alcohol use is associated with many problems, moderate consumption has been linked to improved cardiovascular health and a lower death risk, according to a news release on the study.

However, researchers also said that the risk of alcoholism and other problems such as cirrhosis were consistent among age groups.

Sponsored Links

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
There are a lot of things that can cause joint pain. Find out how psoriasis can lead to arthritis. More

Be sure you can spot the signs of poor nutrition and help your aging parents live a healthier life. More

Keeping non-sexual relationships with the opposite sex can be difficult. Find out if men and women can be just friends. More

Find out the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease, and learn how doctors distinguish this progressive form of dementia from others. More

Don’t be left out. Make the switch to Digital TV.

Health Topics & Information

An alarming number of people live with pain. Whether yours is chronic or acute, we can help you make it stop. Get pain management tips here! More

Health Insurance Quotes

NetQuote
Looking for ways to reduce health care costs? Start saving in just six minutes! Fast, Free, Secure Quotes. Compare now.


E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters