Over half of Americans say this question is inappropriate to ask during the holidays: survey

“Why aren’t you drinking?” may have officially joined the list of questions you shouldn’t ask at a holiday party, according to a new poll.In a survey of 2,000 Americans aged 21 and older who drink alcohol, more than half (52%) said it’s inappropriate to ask someone why they’re not drinking at a holiday gathering.And surprisingly, it was baby boomers — not Gen Z — who took the strongest stance, with three-quarters of boomers (74%) considering the question inappropriate, compared with 37% of Gen Z.Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, the study explored the dos and don’ts of holiday drinking, generational differences in party etiquette and how Americans are approaching moderation and personal choice during the festive season.The findings suggest that the unwritten rules of holiday celebrations may be changing, with greater emphasis on respecting personal preferences rather than expecting everyone to drink the same way.According to the results, nearly two-thirds (63%) consider pressuring someone to have another drink to be poor etiquette, while overindulging in alcohol (59%) and commenting on how much someone is drinking (50%) also ranked among the biggest holiday party faux pas in the study.Expecting everyone to participate in a round (49%) and automatically refilling someone’s glass without asking (48%) also made the list.But while Americans appear increasingly united on what constitutes poor drinking etiquette, the reality of navigating holiday gatherings isn’t quite so straightforward.Moderation tops Americans’ holiday prioritiesWhen it comes to their own drinking decisions, Americans appear to be thinking beyond what’s in their glass.

More than half (53%) say moderation will shape their drinking behavior at holiday events, ahead of taste (46%) and socializing (43%).And when asked to choose the single most important consideration, moderation again came out on top at 40%, compared wi...