Myth of Presidential Drinking [Infographic]


Published On: November 2, 2015

What follows helps dispel the myth of 'presidential drinking' – in turn this infographic proves US presidents are a positive role model when it comes to avoiding alcohol. Please read with joy!

Myth of Presidential Drinking
The Myth of Presidential Drinking via Rehab4Alcoholism.com

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Myth of Presidential Drinking

 

About this infographic

Now that Thanksgiving and Christmas are upon us we thought it a good time to conducted research examining the popularity of different alcoholic beverages amongst US presidents. The research reveals the overwhelming ‘myth’ of heavy presidential drinking.

Drink popularity

The research reveals whiskey was the most popular alcoholic beverage amongst US presidents. In order of popularity, whiskey was followed by wine, beer and then champagne, cider and then gin.

The myth of presidential drinking

The research we undertook reveals the majority of US presidents were moderate drinkers at best. 19% of presidents were completely teetotal. The research thus reveals the ‘myth’ of heavy presidential alcohol use. Many Americans believe their past leaders were heavy drinking hard men. In reality, most US presidents chose to drink very little alcohol. Many elected to drink no alcohol whatsoever.

We feel this research strengthens US presidents’ image as positive role models, particularly for America’s youth. Our research and resulting infographic send out a simple message to young people: if you wish to get ahead, you must elect not to drink excessive amounts of alcohol. The World Health Organisation says around 3 million deaths occur each year due to alcoholism, or around 6% of all global deaths. Therefore, we feel it is important to cast aside any notion that US presidents were heavy drinkers.

Research data

The below table includes data not included in the infographic due to space limitation. We include a ‘drink-o-meter’. This meter grades how much alcohol each president drank. Teetotal presidents scored 0 out of 5 whilst heavy drinking presidents scored 5 out of 5.

PresidentYear of PresidencyFavourite DrinkDrink-o-meter
George WashingtonApril 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797Whiskey2 out of 5
John AdamsMarch 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801Cider2 out of 5
Thomas JeffersonMarch 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809Wine2 out of 5
James MadisonMarch 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817Champagne1 out of 5
James MonroeMarch 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825Wine1 out of 5
John Quincy AdamsMarch 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829Wine1 out of 5
Andrew JacksonMarch 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837Whiskey1 out of 5
Martin Van BurenMarch 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841Whiskey5 out of 5
William Henry HarrisonMarch 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841Teetotal0 out of 5
John TylerApril 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845Champagne1 out of 5
James K. PolkMarch 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849Wine1 out of 5
Zachary TaylorMarch 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850Whiskey1 out of 5
Millard FillmoreJuly 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853Wine1 out of 5
Franklin PierceMarch 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857Whiskey5 out of 5
James BuchananMarch 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861Wine5 out of 5
Abraham LincolnMarch 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865Teetotal0 out of 5
Andrew JohnsonApril 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869Whiskey2 out of 5
Ulysses S. GrantMarch 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877Whiskey3 out of 5
Rutherford B. HayesMarch 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881Teetotal0 out of 5
James GarfieldMarch 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881Beer1 out of 5
Chester A. ArthurSeptember 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885Wine3 out of 5
Grover ClevelandMarch 4, 1885 – March 4, 1889 and March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897Beer5 out of 5
Benjamin HarrisonMarch 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893Teetotal0 out of 5
William McKinleyMarch 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901Whiskey1 out of 5
Theodore RooseveltSeptember 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909Teetotal1 out of 5
William Howard TaftMarch 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913Teetotal1 out of 5
Woodrow WilsonMarch 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921Whiskey1 out of 5
Warren G. HardingMarch 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923Whiskey1 out of 5
Calvin CoolidgeAugust 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929Wine1 out of 5
Herbert HooverMarch 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933Wine1 out of 5
Franklin D. RooseveltMarch 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945Whiskey2 out of 5
Harry TrumanApril 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953Wine1 out of 5
Dwight D. EisenhowerJanuary 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961Whiskey1 out of 5
John F. KennedyJanuary 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963Cocktails1 out of 5
Lyndon B. JohnsonNovember 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969Whiskey2 out of 5
Richard NixonJanuary 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974Wine3 out of 5
Gerald FordAugust 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977Gin2 out of 5
Jimmy CarterJanuary 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981Teetotal0 out of 5
Ronald ReaganJanuary 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989Wine1 out of 5
George H. W. BushJanuary 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993Beer1 out of 5
William ClintonJanuary 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001Beer1 out of 5
George W. BushJanuary 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009Teetotal0 out of 5
Barack ObamaJanuary 20, 2009 –Beer1 out of 5
   Global Avg = 1.5 out of 5
   Avg in 1800s = 1.86
   Avg in 1900s = 1.22

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