The finding: More than 1 in 3 Americans (36%) name alcohol as their go‑to restaurant drink, just ahead of soda (29%) and water (21%), per a July Harris Poll. Nearly 70% of recent diners ordered at least one alcoholic beverage, per Harris.

Zooming out: Total drink volume still skews nonalcoholic as water (89%) and soda (78%) dominate.

• Meanwhile, interest in alternatives is rising: mocktails (33%), NA beverages (32%), and THC/CBD drinks (23%).
• This shift reflects changing views of alcohol’s health impact. Nearly half of US adults (45%) now consider one or two drinks per day unhealthy—a marked 6-point jump from 2023 and a 17-point increase since 2018, per Gallup.
• Interestingly, those shifting views about alcohol are not the result of a deep knowledge among Americans of recent studies about the long-term health effects of alcohol. Only 1 in 5 (19%) of US adults say they have heard “a great deal” about such studies, and 30% have heard “a fair amount,” while 30% say they have heard “not much” and 21% “nothing at all.”

The generational divide: Preferences split sharply by age.

• Millennials (50%) and Gen X (40%) default to alcohol, while Gen Z (25%) and Boomers (26%) prefer soda or water.
• That may stem from the sharp divide in consumers’ perceptions of alcohol. Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) of 18- to 34-year-olds consider moderate drinking unhealthy, versus 37% of those 35 to 54 and 39% of those 55 and older, per Gallup.

Our take: Alcohol remains a top choice, but nonalcoholic options command the bulk of orders. Restaurants should tailor their beverage programs by guest profile and occasion—showcasing premium, adult‑centric cocktails for millennials and Gen X, while expanding on‑trend, flavorful NA and low‑ABV offerings to engage Gen Z and health‑conscious diners.