More than 60% of Americans drink alcohol, according to a Gallup report released last month.

The report found that 62% of Americans drink alcohol, keeping up with the 63% average since 1939. During this time frame, the amount each year varied from 55% in 1958 to 71% from 1976-1978.

The groups most likely to drink were those who make over $100,000 yearly (79%), college graduates (74%), those between the ages of 35 – 54 (66%), and those who attend a religious service less than once a week (65% near weekly, 67% never). Only one group was reported to be more likely not to drink alcohol— weekly religious service attendees (48%).

Of those who did not drink, nearly 1 in 4 (24%) say they felt no need to drink. Other common responses were that they don’t like drinking (16%), want to avoid the health effects (14%), want to avoid the consequences (13%), had a bad experience drinking (13%), had other health issues (11%) or were avoiding it for religious reasons (10%).

Of those who do drink, 69% say they drank recently. Only 19% of respondents claim that they overdrink. This is four points below the trend average of 23%. It was also noted that males (21%), people who make over $100,000 annually (24%), and people under 35 years old (22%) were the most likely to over-indulge. 

Regarding drink preferences, beer continues to be the most popular alcohol (37%), though it isn’t as popular as it was roughly 25 years 2-3 decades ago. For the first time, liquor was recorded to be the second-most popular drink of choice, with a high of 31% marking it as their drink of choice. Wine was found to be in third with 29%, the lowest seen since 1996.

Demographics did seem to play into an individual’s drink of choice. Men were found to prefer beer (53%) while women chose wine (44%). People above 54 and under 35 were found to prefer beer. 

Beer was also preferred by those without a college degree over those with a college education. 

“Americans’ drinking habits are relatively steady, with more than three in five saying they consume alcohol and about one in five drinkers admitting to overindulging sometimes,” Megan Brenan, a research consultant at Gallup, wrote. “Beer remains the top drink of choice for Americans, while liquor has been trending up and is now about as popular as wine.”

To read the full report, click