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The voice of the world in numbers

 

Aug. 13, 2024

Welcome to Front Page, where we break down Gallup's latest insights on our constantly evolving world. Here are the five insights you shouldn't miss this week:

 

1. Booze Is Losing the Health Debate

Line Chart: 45% of U.S. adults say drinking in moderation is bad for your health in 2024.

The Data: Forty-five percent of Americans aged 18 and older believe that drinking one or two drinks a day is bad for your health, up six percentage points from last year. Forty-three percent believe it makes no difference, and 8% believe it is good for your health.

Drinks in the Past Week: Thirty-nine percent of U.S. adults say they have not had an alcoholic drink in the past seven days, and 61% claim to have had at least one drink. Men, adults aged 30 to 49, and individuals in households earning at least $100,000 annually are more likely than other subgroups to drink.

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2. On Their Last Puff?

Line Chart: 11% of U.S. adults say they smoked cigarettes in the past week in 2024.

The Data: Eleven percent of Americans say they smoked cigarettes in the past week, matching the record low recorded in 2022.

The Trend: Smoking in the U.S. has been declining gradually for decades. Smoking peaked at 45% in 1954.

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3. Majorities Continue to Support Euthanasia

Line Chart: 71% of Americans say doctors should be allowed to end a patient's life by painless means in 2024.

The Data: Just over seven in 10 Americans believe doctors should be “allowed by law to end the patient's life by some painless means if the patient and his or her family request it.” At the same time, doctor-assisted suicide — a term used to describe patients ending their own lives with the aid of a physician — garners slightly less but still majority-level support (66%).

The Trend: Although both readings are consistent with support over the past decade, slightly fewer Americans between 1996 and 2014 thought doctor-assisted suicide should be legal. Support for doctor-assisted suicide has risen in the past decade, while support for doctors facilitating a life-ending process without using the term “suicide” has varied only modestly since 1996.

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4. 30-Point Drop: Government-Mandated Childhood Vaccinations

Line Chart: 51% of Americans favor government requirements for vaccinations against contagious diseases in 2024.

The Data: A bare majority of Americans (51%) say the government should require all parents to vaccinate their children against contagious diseases such as measles.

Changes Over Time: This is a marked departure from much larger majorities favoring this in 2019 (62%) and 1991 (81%). The poll also finds a smaller majority than in the past saying it is important for parents to have their children vaccinated, as well as a slight increase in the percentage saying vaccines are more dangerous than the diseases they are designed to prevent.

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5. Weary of Businesses Taking a Public Stance?

Line Chart: 38% of Americans say businesses should take a public stance on current events in 2024.

The Data: Fewer than four in 10 U.S. adults (38%) believe businesses should take a public stance on current events, according to the latest findings from the Bentley-Gallup Business in Society study.

The Trend: The percentage saying they want businesses to weigh in on issues has fallen 10 points since 2022.

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