Last Call

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

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The voice of the world in numbers

Aug. 19, 2025

Welcome to Front Page, Gallup's indispensable intelligence distilled into six charts that give leaders the insights they need to make their most important decisions.

1. Last Call

Line Chart: Americans' use of alcoholic beverages, 1939-2025.

The Data: Just over half of Americans (54%) now say they drink alcohol, the lowest in Gallup's trend since 1939.

The Trend: The percentage of U.S. adults who say they drink has been above 60% in all but a few readings since the 1960s. After holding in that zone from 1997 to 2023, the figure fell to 58% in 2024 before descending to 54% today.

Newest Data

2. Cocktail, Anyone?

Line Chart: U.S. drinkers' preferred alcoholic beverage, 1992-2025.

The Data: Among U.S. drinkers, 38% prefer beer, 30% liquor and 29% wine.

By Gender: Beer is favored more by men (52%) than women (23%), while wine wins out more often among women (44%) than men (14%). The percentage preferring liquor is nearly equal between the two (32% of women, 29% of men).

Line Chart: Perception alcohol is bad for health, by age.

The Data: For the first time, a majority of Americans (53%) say moderate drinking — having one or two alcoholic drinks a day — is bad for one's health.

Generational Change: Young adults lead this shift, with about two-thirds now saying moderate drinking is harmful, up from 30% in 2001.

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4. Party Gap Hits Record High

Line Chart: Congressional job approval, by political party.

The Data: Congressional job approval is 61% among Republicans and 6% among Democrats, a 55-percentage-point partisan gap.

More Context: Before this year, Republican approval had not topped 50% since 2005. The latest Democratic approval rating is one of their lowest recorded, along with 4% in June 2025, 5% in October 2013 and February 2025, and 6% in March 2018.

Line Chart: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's approval higher than in 2024.

The Data: Two-thirds of Ukrainians (67%) approve of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2025.

The Trend: Support peaked at 84% post-invasion in 2022 but dropped to 60% in 2024. Zelenskyy's current rating remains well above any level seen by his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko.

Line Chart: Ukrainians support negotiated peace.

The Data: In 2025, 69% of Ukrainians support negotiating an end to the war with Russia, while 24% favor continuing to fight until victory.

The Trend: This is a reversal from 2022, when 73% supported fighting until victory and 22% preferred negotiating an end to the war. Support for a diplomatic ending has increased steadily each year.