A polling company that reports U.S. alcohol consuption has hit a nearly 100 year low - among the previous lowest was 1958 - and so this is lower. Health reasons among those given. From The Independent.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/american-alcohol-consumption-poll-b2807194.html 

It’s common with youngsters avoiding alcohol

... because they send all their time staring at their phone in zombie mode. Very healthy.

1 minute ago, 3NUMBAS said:

It’s common with youngsters avoiding alcohol

I've read that too. I drink less these days too.

 

TBH, I never liked (most) American booze. The beer is week and tasteless (to me) and so-called whiskey/whisky (really it's 'bourbon') tastes like the smell of stinky socks. JW Black for me. And European beer. Even American (California) wine is a non-starter for me. Australian, Argentinian and French for me. Everyone has their own tastes of course.

I like American rum. Though rarely drink it.

18 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

A polling company that reports U.S. alcohol consuption has hit a nearly 100 year low - among the previous lowest was 1958 - and so this is lower. Health reasons among those given. From The Independent.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/american-alcohol-consumption-poll-b2807194.html 

And yet life expectancy if falling, not rising

2 minutes ago, jaywalker2 said:

And yet life expectancy if falling, not rising

Maybe for older people that boozed it up through much of their lives (including me) and smoked a lot when younger. Not sure anyone can predict life expectency would be falling for those in their 20s that don't drink or smoke - unless they have really bad diets, obese, etc.

Ill drink to that.

Maybe they prefer white lightning and it doesn't show up in these  polls !

Really, cuz I am an American expat in Thailand and have pounded at least 20 quarts of dewars scotch since the last election. It's helped

3 hours ago, poobear said:

Really, cuz I am an American expat in Thailand and have pounded at least 20 quarts of dewars scotch since the last election. It's helped

Keep celebrating the win,, rock on ...

Booze is beng replaced by cannabis which is legal in 24 states for recreational usage and 40 states for medical usage.

2 hours ago, Tom100 said:

Booze is beng replaced by cannabis which is legal in 24 states for recreational usage and 40 states for medical usage.

Bingo!and the weed is waaaayyyy stronger than it was back in the day!lol 

10 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I've read that too. I drink less these days too.

 

TBH, I never liked (most) American booze. The beer is week and tasteless (to me) and so-called whiskey/whisky (really it's 'bourbon') tastes like the smell of stinky socks. JW Black for me. And European beer. Even American (California) wine is a non-starter for me. Australian, Argentinian and French for me. Everyone has their own tastes of course.

Californian wine is world class. Have had hundreds of bottles from various vintners. As far as beer, Coors is decent, although my favorites have always been Guinness and German beers. Not into whiskey but America has quite a few top shelf types, including Bourbon and Scotch.  Yes, it is all personal taste but some places are renowned for making certain types. 

8 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Californian wine is world class. Have had hundreds of bottles from various vintners. As far as beer, Coors is decent, although my favorites have always been Guinness and German beers. Not into whiskey but America has quite a few top shelf types, including Bourbon and Scotch.  Yes, it is all personal taste but some places are renowned for making certain types. 

American Scotch ? 

6 minutes ago, 0ffshore360 said:

American Scotch ? 

Actually single malt whiskey. Scotch itself is from Scotland .

10 hours ago, poobear said:

Really, cuz I am an American expat in Thailand and have pounded at least 20 quarts of dewars scotch since the last election. It's helped

Dewar's is pretty good for a standard scotch. At least it's real scotch - not the Thai stuff. Have you tried Grants? It's also imported, and around the same price point but I like the taste a bit better..

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

Californian wine is world class. Have had hundreds of bottles from various vintners. As far as beer, Coors is decent, although my favorites have always been Guinness and German beers. Not into whiskey but America has quite a few top shelf types, including Bourbon and Scotch.  Yes, it is all personal taste but some places are renowned for making certain types. 

Maybe it was just where I looked (a Safeway and Walgreens in Wa state), but I couldn't find JW Black (or red) in either. I couldn't find Australian or European wine either (there was some from Spain) - it was disappointing. So I guess most Americans are content with bourbon and California wine. Couldn't find many restaurants open after 9:30 either for that matter, but I was in a smaller city (not Seattle). I find it funny that a pharmacy like Walgreens has rows of booze and dozens of brands of cigarettes for sale.. Takes me back about 20 years to see that kind of thing.

1 minute ago, ronnie50 said:

Maybe it was just where I looked (a Safeway and Walgreens in Wa state), but I couldn't find JW Black (or red) in either. I couldn't find Australian or European wine either (there was some from Spain) - it was disappointing. So I guess most Americans are content with bourbon and California wine. Couldn't find many restaurants open after 9:30 either for that matter, but I was in a smaller city (not Seattle). I find it funny that a pharmacy like Walgreens has rows of booze and dozens of brands of cigarettes for sale.. Takes me back about 20 years to see that kind of thing.

You can get wine from all countries in all states. For a good selection  you need to visit actual wine stores. Walgreens and Safeway would only have a few basics, likely from local wineries and what they could get and sell easily. I lived in New Jersey and Texas and had a pretty good wine collection from all over. Chain stores usually carry certain brands and stick with what sells quick. 

12 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

TBH, I never liked (most) American booze. The beer is week and tasteless (to me)

 

Whoa! If you're referring to the adjunct lagers (Bud, Coors, etc.) - agreed. But that's swill for the masses. American IPAs, APAs, and many other styles, are top notch. Also, various American breweries make world-class Belgian style ales, German lagers, etc., etc. 

 

12 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

so-called whiskey/whisky (really it's 'bourbon') tastes like the smell of stinky socks

 

Actually, it's peaty Scotch that smells like stinky socks, not bourbon. Bourbon has a clean, slightly sweet aroma, nothing offensive.

 

Personally, I prefer Scotch over bourbon, but just as there is world-class scotch, there is world class bourbon. I feel sorry for people who miss out on an entire class of adult beverages. The sad part is, most of the time it's because of advertising and misperceptions rather than taste.

 

12 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

JW Black for me.

 

OK, no argument against JW Black. It's a fine inexpensive middle of the road standard bottle of Scotch. But there is a whole world of Scotches that are not even in the same universe. 18 Year Bowmore. Triple Wood Laphroaig. And dozens of others...

42 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

So I guess most Americans are content with bourbon and California wine.

 

I can't speak for most Americans, nor do I care what they are content with. 

 

Who the hell would ever go to Safeway (or to Billa in Germany) shopping for fine liquor or wine? 

Alcohol maybe down but only because it is being replaced by drugs like Fentanyl. America is a land of druggies and poor diet, quality of life, lowers the life expectancy. 

Caannibis infused drinks are the latest craze in the U.S.  Booze has too much bad press now.

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Alcohol maybe down but only because it is being replaced by drugs like Fentanyl. America is a land of druggies and poor diet, quality of life, lowers the life expectancy. 

So true Purdey! Great chart. Booze sales down and fentanyl sales exploding. Amurika has fast food and fast drugs.

45 minutes ago, Tom100 said:

So true Purdey! Great chart. Booze sales down and fentanyl sales exploding. Amurika has fast food and fast drugs.

I used to like valiums washed down with an alcohol beverage, when a youngin.  Smoother buzz ... No hangover 

6 hours ago, Equatorial said:

But there is a whole world of Scotches that are not even in the same universe. 18 Year Bowmore. Triple Wood Laphroaig. And dozens of others...

Glenfarclas 12 years. I used to like 10 year version but don't think they make it anymore

6 hours ago, Equatorial said:

Who the hell would ever go to Safeway (or to Billa in Germany) shopping for fine liquor or wine? 

I was just looking for JW Black and a bottle of Australian Shiraz - nothing special. They didn't have it, nor any Australian wine or JW. Says something about US supermarkets...

22 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

U.S. alcohol consuption has hit a nearly 100 year low

Nobody can afford to buy booze anymore.

7 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I was just looking for JW Black and a bottle of Australian Shiraz - nothing special. They didn't have it, nor any Australian wine or JW. Says something about US supermarkets...

 

Can't generalize. US is as large as Europe, and there is regional variety. I just checked two stores (Safeway and Raley's) near me (had to check because I do not buy booze in grocery stores). 

 

They both had JW Red and Black, both in 750ml and 1.7l sizes. One had Penfold shiraz, the other had Penfold and Yellow Tail. 

 

Of course, that would not be the case in Mississippi. Or Albania. 

4 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

Nobody can afford to buy booze anymore.

Well, Canada stopped importing