If you drink alcoholic beverages, it s also a good idea to drink them with meals, since food slows the absorption of alcohol. USDA conducts national surveys of what Americans eat on a regular basis. The most recent of these is the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, conducted in 1994-96. Beer was the most popular alcoholic beverage 50 percent of adults reported drinking beer sometime in the year, compared with 45 percent for wine and 44 percent for distilled spirits. Different demographic groups vary in their use of alcohol.
Women are less likely to drink alcohol than men.
Alcohol use was also more common among higher-income individuals this was especially true for wine and distilled spirits. Alcohol use was more common among whites compared with blacks. The amount of alcohol usually consumed by individuals is difficult to estimate, but data on trends in per capita consumption of alcohol are estimated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Alcohol Epidemiological Data System. These data show a steady decline in the amount of alcohol consumed per capita between 1980 and 1991. This was especially true for distilled spirits.