Catholic alcohol consumption drops to record low as Americans rethink moderate drinking habits

A historic shift in American drinking habits shows Catholic alcohol consumption reaching record lows, though scientific experts caution against attributing the drop strictly to religious or cultural changes.

The share of Catholic adults in the United States who report drinking alcohol has fallen to 55%, according to a Gallup report authored by analyst Frank Newport.

That marks a decline from the 2002–2004 period, when 79% of Catholics reported consuming alcoholic beverages. Over that same timeframe...