A growing number of Americans are trading the traditional after-work drink for cannabis-infused beverages, according to a new nationwide survey.
Drug Rehab USA surveyed 1,000 employed adults about how they unwind after work. The results show that 24% of Americans have at least partially replaced alcohol with non-alcoholic or cannabis beverages. Among Gen Z and millennials, the shift is even more pronounced, with one in three reporting regular consumption of THC-based drinks.
Alcohol remains the most common after-work substance, with 45% of respondents saying they drink to relax. Nicotine was second at 24%, followed by cannabis at 20% and non-alcoholic options such as mocktails and CBD drinks at 16%. Still, 35% of respondents said they abstain entirely, with women (41%) nearly twice as likely as men (26%) to avoid substances in their after-hours routines.
The survey also found that 43% of Americans use a calming substance three or more times a week, and nearly one in five admitted to daily use. Stress was the top trigger for after-work use, cited by 33% of respondents, followed by social routines at 26%. Two in five begin their ritual within an hour of logging off, and almost one in four spend more than $50 a week on after-work substances.
While alcohol continues to dominate, younger adults are driving the rise of cannabis beverages and alcohol-free alternatives, reflecting the growing popularity of the “sober-curious” movement. Drug Rehab USA notes that these changing patterns show how Americans are blending old habits with new products to create a boundary between work and personal life.
