USA TODAY - Global alcohol use continues to rise,a new studyreports, and is expected to keep growing in the years ahead.
In fact, just in the past 27 years, the total volume of alcohol people consumed globally each year increased by 70% – from 5.5 billion gallons in 1990 to 9.4 billion gallons in 2017. That's a result of increased population along with increased alcohol consumption.
As of 2017, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the increase equates to about 1.7 gallons of pure alcohol per year per adult.
This means that an adult averages about one drink a day, whether it's a 12-ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1½ ounces of distilled spirits, the study said.
I've been on this planet less than 27 years and in that time drinking alcohol has increased by 70%?!?! What a stat line. I can only assume a huge portion of that jump came in recent years. I mean you've got lower calorie beer options, flavored vodkas, the craft beer surge, cider made a comeback (not really alcohol but for this purpose, I'll allow it), remember when Mike's Hard Lemonade was being advertised everywhere?, and now these new "vodka soda in a can" drinks, No sh*t we're drinking more in a global effort! There's so many ways to get drunk now! All this talking about alcohol consumption makes me want a drink. 1.7 gallons of pure alcohol a year are rookie numbers though. That's a decent summer in my experience. Step it up, world. I want some higher numbers. Go big or go home. - @Traceahamilton