Beer remains Americans' favorite alcohol

Gallup=  Americans who drink alcohol continue to say they most often choose beer (40%) over wine (30%) and liquor (26%). Beer has typically been the preferred alcoholic beverage in Gallup's trend. Graph 1

Gallup has found that beer is most popular among men; this year, 62% of male drinkers say they prefer beer, compared with 19% of female drinkers. Less-educated and middle-income Americans also tend to choose beer.

For the past two decades, at least three in 10 drinkers have said they prefer wine, peaking at 39% in 2005. Wine was slightly less popular in the early to mid-1990s. Women are significantly more likely than men to prefer wine, at 50% vs. 11%, respectively. This beverage is also preferred more among college-educated adults.

The 26% of drinkers who name liquor as their beverage of choice is the highest in Gallup's 25-year trend, but similar to the 24% recorded in 2004.

Meanwhile, 38% of U.S. adults totally abstain from alcohol. That figure has remained below 40% since 1997.