More money, more booze: poll finds people with higher incomes drink more
The gap between higher- and lower-income Americans could come from access to alcohol, the study suggests. Americans with higher incomes can afford to drink more and are more likely to do things that involve drinking, such as eat at restaurants, vacation or go out with co-workers.
Income and education levels also affect drinking habits. Out of Americans who make $75,000 or more, 47% said they last drank an alcoholic beverage within the last 24 hours. Out of Americans who make less than $30,000, 18% said they had a drink in the last 24 hours.
Similarly, 45% of college graduates said they had drunk within the past 24 hours, while 28% of Americans with a high school diploma or less education said the same.