Beer reigns supreme as Americans' preferred alcoholic beverage

65% of American adults say they drink alcoholic beverages. And when they do, beer is the beverage of choice. 43% prefer beer, 32% wine and 20% say liquor.

The beer preference varies by gender. The majority of men prefer beer (53%), while less than one-quarter (23%) of women do. Half of women prefer wine.

Higher socioeconomic adults drink alcoholic beverages far more than lower socioeconomic ones. 80% of college graduates drink versus only 52% of adults with no more than a high school education. By income, 78% of adults with household incomes of $75,000 or more drink, versus only 45% with household incomes of less than $30,000.

In all but a very few areas of America such as the Salt Lake City area, if you want to attract adults, especially the higher socioeconomic ones who account for over 70% of all location-based entertainment spending, you need to have a bar and offer alcoholic beverages.