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Key Takeaways
- Recent surveys show that people who consume THC beverages significantly reduce their alcohol intake, with 77% reporting less drinking.
- The top reasons for choosing THC beverages over alcohol include relaxation, enjoyment, no hangover, and using them as sleep aids.
- Research from the University at Buffalo supports these findings, revealing a 50% reduction in weekly alcohol consumption among cannabis beverage users.
- A growing trend emerges, especially among Gen Z, indicating a shift away from alcohol towards THC drinks as a preferred social choice.
- Potential federal legislation could affect THC beverage availability, with many consumers planning to adapt their purchasing behavior if products disappear.
NORTH AMERICA – The data is in, and it points in one clear direction: people who drink THC beverages are drinking a lot less alcohol.
This isn’t a fringe observation from a small focus group. A recent survey by THC beverage company Crescent Canna, conducted across 1,637 adults who had tried a THC drink at least once, found that 76.6% reported reduced alcohol use since making the switch. Meanwhile, peer-reviewed research from the University at Buffalo published earlier this year found that cannabis beverage users cut their weekly alcohol consumption by more than half on average.
Two very different types of studies, one consistent finding. That’s worth paying attention to.
So what’s actually driving this shift, what does the research say, and what does it mean for the conversation around cannabis as a harm reduction tool?
What Did the Crescent Canna THC Beverage Survey Find?
The Crescent Canna survey ran from May 29 to June 11, 2026, gathering responses from 1,637 adults aged 21 and older who had tried a THC beverage at least once.
The headline number: 77% of respondents said they drink less alcohol now than before they started consuming THC beverages. Breaking that down further, 36.8% said they drink much less, 18.7% drink slightly less, and 21.1% said they have quit alcohol entirely. Just 0.5% reported drinking more alcohol since starting THC drinks.
The survey also found that 44% of respondents consider THC beverages part of their regular wellness routine, and 69.8% consume them at least once a week. This is not a category of casual, occasional users. These are habitual consumers making a deliberate choice.
What Are the Top Reasons People Choose THC Drinks Over Alcohol?
The motivations behind the switch go beyond simple preference. When respondents were asked why they reach for a THC beverage, the answers were mostly functional.
The top reason, cited by 79.4% of respondents, was relaxation. That was followed closely by “I like how it makes me feel” (65.9%) and “no hangover” (59.5%). More than half of respondents (51.1%) said they drink THC beverages specifically to avoid the negative effects of alcohol, and 50% reported using them as a sleep aid.
The hangover factor is significant. Alcohol’s after-effects are one of the most commonly cited reasons people try to cut back on drinking. THC beverages offer a way to socialize and unwind without paying for it the next morning. For many users, that trade-off is a no-brainer.
What Does University Research Say About Cannabis Drinks and Alcohol Reduction?
The Crescent Canna survey tells one part of the story. The University at Buffalo study, published earlier in January in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, adds academic weight to what consumers are already reporting.
The UB study surveyed 438 anonymous adults who reported using cannabis in the past year. Among those who used cannabis beverages specifically, alcohol consumption dropped from an average of 7.02 drinks per week to just 3.35 after they started drinking cannabis beverages. That’s more than a 50% reduction.
Lead author Jessica Kruger, PhD, a clinical associate professor of community health and health behavior at UB, described the finding this way: “In the first study of its kind, we introduce the concept of having cannabis as harm reduction for alcohol.”
Co-author Daniel Kruger, PhD, noted something particularly interesting about cannabis beverages compared to other forms of cannabis: “People who use cannabis beverages report an even greater reduction in alcohol use than those who use other types of cannabis products. We believe this may be because of the similarity in administration method and context of use.”
In other words, holding a cannabis drink at a party is functionally similar to holding a beer. That social familiarity may be part of why the substitution works so well.
Is the Shift Away from Alcohol a Real Trend?
The cannabis beverage data doesn’t exist in isolation. A separate survey conducted by Talker Research for Señorita between December 12-17, 2025, involving 2,000 American adults aged 21 and older, found that 61% of Americans have become less interested in alcohol since first trying it.
Gen Z respondents are leading the charge, with 63% reporting declining interest in drinking. According to the same survey, Gen Z starts losing interest in alcohol at around age 23, compared to baby boomers who said their disinterest didn’t kick in until around age 44.
When asked about 2026 trends, 18% of respondents said drinking alcohol is “out,” while THC drinks ranked equally “in” at 18% across all generations. Nearly half of all respondents (48%) said THC products should be as socially normalized as alcohol, with millennials especially keen on that idea at 60%.
What Could a Federal Hemp THC Ban Mean for Consumers?
This is where the data gets politically relevant. Federal legislation passed in late 2025 is set to effectively ban hemp-derived THC products as early as upcoming November, unless Congress steps in with a fix.
The Crescent Canna survey found that 86.7% of THC beverage consumers are already aware of the potential ban. Of those, 26.9% are actively stocking up, and another 41.2% plan to change their buying behavior before November.
The most telling response came when consumers were asked what they would do if hemp-derived THC beverages disappeared: 67.3% said they would shift to other forms of THC, and 23.4% said they would go back to drinking more alcohol. Only 8% said they would stop using THC entirely.
As the Crescent Canna survey report put it: “The argument that banning hemp beverages is a public health win does not hold up against this data.”
What’s already clear is that a significant portion of cannabis drink consumers aren’t just looking for a way to get high. They’re looking for a way to socialize, unwind, and feel good the next morning without alcohol’s familiar downsides. The data shows they’re finding it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Research suggests that THC beverages may help reduce alcohol consumption. A 2026 Crescent Canna survey found that over three-quarters of THC drink consumers reduced or stopped drinking alcohol altogether. A University at Buffalo study backs this up, finding that cannabis beverage users cut their weekly alcohol intake by nearly half.
University at Buffalo researchers found that cannabis beverages are effective alcohol substitutes because holding a drink at social events mimics a familiar, natural behavior.
The Crescent Canna 2026 survey found that the largest single age group among THC beverage consumers is 35- to 44-year-olds. The survey also found that 35.3% of respondents are 55 or older, indicating this is not a youth-dominated category. Respondents came from 48 states and Washington, D.C.
According to a Crescent Canna survey, 44% of users include THC beverages in their wellness routine, primarily using them for relaxation, sleep support, and as a hangover-free alternative to alcohol.
A Crescent Canna survey reveals that banning hemp-derived THC drinks is unlikely to reduce overall consumption, as most consumers would simply switch to other THC products (67.3%) or drink more alcohol (23.4%).
