The Alcohol Industry Is Hooked on Its Heaviest Drinkers

January 21, 2025

several bottles of liquor

(Wall Street Journal) – Most ads for liquor or beer include a reminder to “drink responsibly.” Still, the alcohol industry depends on people who drink more than public-health officials say is safe. A fifth of adults account for an estimated 90% of alcohol sales volumes in the U.S., according to an analysis published in 2023 by equity research firm Bernstein.

“Heavier drinkers are obviously where the money is,” said Philip Cook, a professor emeritus at Duke University whose 2007 book, “Paying the Tab,” was among the scientific studies analyzed by Bernstein. (Read More)