PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Americans who drink alcohol are equally likely to say they drink beer or wine most often, results of a Gallup poll released Thursday indicate.
Thirty-six percent of Americans said they drink beer more often, 1 percentage point ahead of those who say they drink wine most often, results indicated. Twenty-three percent said hard liquor is their alcoholic beverage of choice.
Since 1992, beer has been slipping as the preferred beverage of U.S. drinkers, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.
Results of Gallup's annual Consumption Habits poll indicated 60 percent of Americans drink alcohol at least occasionally, in line with the historical average of 63 percent since 1939.
Gallup said 53 percent of men name beer as their favorite drink, while 22 percent say liquor and 20 percent, wine. Fifty-two percent of women say they drink wine most often, while 24 percent say liquor and 20 percent say beer.
Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 2,027 adults conducted July 10-14. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.
