Have you been at a party recently and found yourself reaching for sparkling water instead of a glass of wine? Join the club.  

A new Gallup poll found that Americans are drinking less than ever before. Only 54% of U.S. adults are reporting that they consume alcohol. That’s a record low since the survey company started asking about people’s drinking habits back in 1939. 

And young people are drinking less than older Americans, a trend we’re seeing in our region, too: The Seattle Times reports that young people - especially young men - are reporting lower alcohol consumption than other age groups in the area. 

We want to know how local businesses are navigating this -- and what could be behind this shift. 

Guest:
Emily Ritchie, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association.
Malcolm Purinton, assistant teaching professor of history at Northeastern University. 

Related stories: 
U.S. Drinking Rate at New Low as Alcohol Concerns Surge | Gallup 
How much do adults in Seattle drink? Here’s what new data shows | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Have you been at a party recently and found yourself reaching for sparkling water instead of a glass of wine? Join the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;
A new Gallup poll found that Americans are drinking less than ever before. Only 54% of U.S. adults are reporting that they consume alcohol. That&rsquo;s a record low since the survey company started asking about people&rsquo;s drinking habits back in 1939.&nbsp;
And young people are drinking less than older Americans, a trend we&rsquo;re seeing in our region, too: The Seattle Times reports that young people - especially young&nbsp;men - are reporting lower alcohol consumption than other age groups in the area.&nbsp;
We want to know how local businesses are navigating this -- and what could be behind this shift.&nbsp;
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Emily Ritchie, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association.</li>
<li>Malcolm Purinton, assistant teaching professor of history at Northeastern University.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Related stories:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/technology/coding-ai-jobs-students.html"></a><a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx">U.S. Drinking Rate at New Low as Alcohol Concerns Surge | Gallup</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/technology/coding-ai-jobs-students.html"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/how-much-do-adults-in-seattle-drink-heres-what-new-data-shows/?utm_source=marketingcloud&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Morning+Brief+8-19-25_8_19_2025&amp;utm_term=">How much do adults in Seattle drink? Here&rsquo;s what new data shows | The Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

A new Gallup poll found that Americans are drinking less than ever before. We want to know how local businesses are navigating this -- and what could be behind this shift. 

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