Millennials can't be blamed for lower alcohol consumption, that's just smart health thinking. But they are a barometer of future drinking habits.

Across all age groups, around 40 percent of 1,166 U.S. adults say they're drinking less than they were five years ago. A year ago 31 percent of drinkers said they were drinking less while 56 percent said they stayed the same. Of course, that means up to 11 percent could be drinking more but even that is an improvement over two generations ago, when the majority in their 20s increased alcohol consumption.