Americans are drinking more alcohol, more often than they were a decade ago, according to new results from a Gallup study that has been tracking drinking habits since 1939. The poll found that although the number of Americans who drink has stayed about the same (64 percent), the average number of drinks they’re consuming each week has increased from 2.8 in 1996 to 4.5 in 2006.

   And 71 percent of those polled reported having an alcoholic drink in the last week, compared to 54 percent a decade ago. Why the jump? Researchers speculate it’s due at least in part to alcohol’s recently publicized health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes. Still, it’s important to remember that moderation—no more than one drink a day for women, two for men—is key, says Robert L. DuPont, M.D., a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Excessive drinking can increase risk of certain health problems, including liver damage, pancreatitis, and some cancers.

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