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Wealthy Americans with College Degrees Drink More Than Other Americans, Poll Finds

While eight in 10 adults in these socio-economic status groups say they drink, only about half of lower-income Americans and those with a high school diploma or less say they drink.

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College graduates who drink said that wine is their drink of choice. Americans with a college degree are more likely to prefer wine to beer (44% to 35%), and those with a high school education or less prefer beer to wine (52% to 21%).

Gallup found that overall, 64% of Americans say they drink, which is consistent with polls dating to 1939. Data showed that college graduates are significantly less likely to overdrink compared to non-college graduates.

“A majority of Americans continue to believe smoking should be made illegal in all public places (58%), as they have since 2011”, Gallup said.

Income levels and education disparity mark the biggest differences in drinking habits among Americans, and are typically larger than differences caused by gender, age, race, region and religions, the survey found. However, these higher-income, well-educated drinkers were less likely to admit that they overindulged in alcohol from time to time. However, Gallup also reasons that people with a higher income can afford to go out to restaurants and more frequently participate in social activities that involve drinking.

People within the middle-making between $30,000 and $75,000, and people who accomplished some college-drank lower than their richer, better-educated friends however greater than lower-income, much less educated individuals.

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Income and education levels also affect drinking habits.

Your Income and Education Linked to Your Alcohol Consumption Poll Suggests