DECEMBER 11, 2019: Forty-seven percent (47%) of American adults consider alcohol to be either an extremely serious (18%) or very serious (29%) societal problem.[1] ([link removed])
For 36% of Americans, the problem strikes close to home. They say that drinking has caused problems in their family. That number has been fairly consistent in the 21st century.[1] ([link removed])
However, it was much lower in earlier times. At the end of World War II, just 15% said alcohol had caused problems in their family. And, in 1974, just 12% expressed that view. It wasn’t until 1999 that the number seeing drinking as a problem in their family reached 30%.[1] ([link removed])
It is impossible to know how much of this growth is due to an actual increase in problems, a growing willingness to recognize and admit the problem, or shifting societal norms.
Yesterday’s Number of the Day ([link removed]) noted that 65% of Americans consume alcohol at least occasionally. Of that group, 18% sometimes drink more than they should.
Here is a chart from Gallup showing this data going back to the middle of last century:[1] ([link removed])
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Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day ([link removed]) explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
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_Scott Rasmussen is an editor-at-large for Ballotpedia, the Encyclopedia of American Politics. He is a senior fellow for the study of self-governance at the King’s College in New York. His most recent book, ** Politics Has Failed: America Will Not ([link removed])
** , ([link removed])
was published by the Sutherland Institute in August 2018._
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