An Examination of the Presidents of the United States of America
Alcohol Consumption
Many Americans believe our presidents were heavy drinking hard men.
The information that follows investigates the myth of heavy presidential drinking.
Explore and enjoy!
The myth of presidential drinking
The research reveals the majority of US presidents were moderate drinkers. With 19% who elected to drink no alcohol whatsoever, teetotal.
Therefore, contrary to what most people assume, we must cast aside any notion that US presidents were heavy drinkers.
Conclusion
The data suggest a couple of simple messages to young and old.
Most US presidents are positive role models for avoiding alcohol.
If you wish to get ahead, don't drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
The data
The table below includes data for each president: the years they were president, their favorite drink and a grade for the amount of alcohol each president drank. Grades are determined by how much alcohol each president drank on a scale from zero (0) to five (5). Teetotal presidents are graded 0 and heavy drinking presidents are graded 5.
| President | Year of Presidency | Favourite Drink | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington | April 30, 1789 - March 4, 1797 | Whiskey | 2 |
| John Adams | March 4, 1797 - March 4, 1801 | Cider | 2 |
| Thomas Jefferson | March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1809 | Wine | 2 |
| James Madison | March 4, 1809 - March 4, 1817 | Champagne | 1 |
| James Monroe | March 4, 1817 - March 4, 1825 | Wine | 1 |
| John Quincy Adams | March 4, 1825 - March 4, 1829 | Wine | 1 |
| Andrew Jackson | March 4, 1829 - March 4, 1837 | Whiskey | 1 |
| Martin Van Buren | March 4, 1837 - March 4, 1841 | Whiskey | 5 |
| William Henry Harrison | March 4, 1841 - April 4, 1841 | Teetotal | 0 |
| John Tyler | April 4, 1841 - March 4, 1845 | Champagne | 1 |
| James K. Polk | March 4, 1845 - March 4, 1849 | Wine | 1 |
| Zachary Taylor | March 4, 1849 - July 9, 1850 | Whiskey | 1 |
| Millard Fillmore | July 9, 1850 - March 4, 1853 | Wine | 1 |
| Franklin Pierce | March 4, 1853 - March 4, 1857 | Whiskey | 5 |
| James Buchanan | March 4, 1857 - March 4, 1861 | Wine | 5 |
| Abraham Lincoln | March 4, 1861 - April 15, 1865 | Teetotal | 0 |
| Andrew Johnson | April 15, 1865 - March 4, 1869 | Whiskey | 2 |
| Ulysses S. Grant | March 4, 1869 - March 4, 1877 | Whiskey | 3 |
| Rutherford B. Hayes | March 4, 1877 - March 4, 1881 | Teetotal | 0 |
| James Garfield | March 4, 1881 - September 19, 1881 | Beer | 1 |
| Chester A. Arthur | September 19, 1881 - March 4, 1885 | Wine | 3 |
| Grover Cleveland | March 4, 1885 - March 4, 1889 and March 4, 1893 - March 4, 1897 | Beer | 5 |
| Benjamin Harrison | March 4, 1889 - March 4, 1893 | Teetotal | 0 |
| William McKinley | March 4, 1897 - September 14, 1901 | Whiskey | 1 |
| Theodore Roosevelt | September 14, 1901 - March 4, 1909 | Teetotal | 1 |
| William Howard Taft | March 4, 1909 - March 4, 1913 | Teetotal | 1 |
| Woodrow Wilson | March 4, 1913 - March 4, 1921 | Whiskey | 1 |
| Warren G. Harding | March 4, 1921 - August 2, 1923 | Whiskey | 1 |
| Calvin Coolidge | August 2, 1923 - March 4, 1929 | Wine | 1 |
| Herbert Hoover | March 4, 1929 - March 4, 1933 | Wine | 1 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 | Whiskey | 2 |
| Harry Truman | April 12, 1945 - January 20, 1953 | Wine | 1 |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | January 20, 1953 - January 20, 1961 | Whiskey | 1 |
| John F. Kennedy | January 20, 1961 - November 22, 1963 | Cocktails | 1 |
| Lyndon B. Johnson | November 22, 1963 - January 20, 1969 | Whiskey | 2 |
| Richard Nixon | January 20, 1969 - August 9, 1974 | Wine | 3 |
| Gerald Ford | August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977 | Gin | 2 |
| Jimmy Carter | January 20, 1977 - January 20, 1981 | Teetotal | 0 |
| Ronald Reagan | January 20, 1981 - January 20, 1989 | Wine | 1 |
| George H. W. Bush | January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993 | Beer | 1 |
| William Clinton | January 20, 1993 - January 20, 2001 | Beer | 1 |
| George W. Bush | January 20, 2001 - January 20, 2009 | Teetotal | 0 |
| Barack Obama | January 20, 2009 - January 20, 2016 | Beer | 1 |
| Donald Trump | January 20, 2016 - January 20, 2020 | Teetotal | 0 |
| Joe Biden | January 20, 2021 - | Teetotal | 0 |
Averages
Over all Average Grade ≊ 1.5
1800's Average Grade ≊ 1.86
1900's Average Grade ≊ 1.22
2000's Average Grade ≊ .25
Drink popularity
The research identified whiskey was the most popular alcoholic beverage amongst US presidents. Order of popularity
- Whiskey,
- Wine,
- Beer,
- Champagne,
- Cider,
- Gin.
