A groundbreaking study released today shows that THC-infused drinks are already helping people cut back or quit alcohol, offering public health experts the first real-world evidence that cannabis beverages can act as a powerful harm-reduction tool.
Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo tracked adults who regularly drank alcohol and then switched to cannabis-infused beverages. The results were striking: most participants reported drinking far less alcohol, and many stopped altogether.
People who replaced alcohol with THC drinks cut their average number of drinks per month by more than half, according to the peer-reviewed study published in Addiction Science & Clinical Practice.
Why This Matters Now
Alcohol kills about 140,000 Americans every year and costs the country nearly $250 billion in health and economic damage, according to the CDC. Despite decades of awareness campaigns, treatment programs, and higher taxes, heavy drinking rates have barely moved.
Cannabis beverages have exploded onto the market in the past three years. Brands like Cann, Wynk, and Hi-Fi Hops now sit next to beer in refrigerators across legal states. The new research shows these drinks are not just another party option. For many, they are becoming a direct replacement.
What the Researchers Actually Measured
The team surveyed 629 adults in the United States who used both alcohol and cannabis beverages. Over 70% said they intentionally used THC drinks to drink less alcohol. Nearly half reported complete substitution on some drinking days.
Key findings:
- 42% said they now get drunk less often because of cannabis drinks
- 28% reported better sleep after switching
- 18% said they completely replaced alcohol on certain occasions
- Only 4% said cannabis beverages increased their alcohol use
“This is the strongest evidence yet that cannabis beverages can function as an alcohol substitute in real-world settings,” said lead author Rebecca Ariana Smith, a doctoral candidate in community health at SUNY Buffalo.
How THC Drinks Beat Traditional Options
Non-alcoholic beer and mocktails have grown fast, but they still trigger the same social cues and habits tied to drinking. Cannabis drinks deliver a buzz without the hangover, liver damage, or next-day regret.
One participant told researchers: “I used to have four beers after work. Now I have one THC seltzer and I’m relaxed, I sleep great, and I wake up clear-headed.”
Another said the switch saved his marriage. “My wife hated when I drank. She doesn’t care if I have a cannabis drink. It changed everything.”
Public Health Experts React
Dr. Keith Humphreys, former White House drug policy advisor and Stanford professor, called the findings “extremely encouraging.”
“We’ve never had a safer, legal, widely available substitute for alcohol,” Humphreys said. “If even a fraction of heavy drinkers switch to cannabis beverages, we could prevent thousands of deaths and injuries.”
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has quietly started tracking cannabis substitution patterns. Early internal data matches the Buffalo results.
The Industry Is Already Moving Fast
Major beer companies are jumping in. Molson Coors, Heineken, and Constellation Brands (owner of Corona) have all launched or invested in THC drink lines. Retail sales of cannabis beverages topped $500 million in 2024 and are projected to hit $2 billion by 2027, according to BDSA Analytics.
Stores in California, Colorado, and Michigan now report that THC seltzers often outsell non-alcoholic beer in the same cooler.
The shift is so visible that some bar owners are adding cannabis drinks to their menus on nights when alcohol sales are slow.
This study lands at a pivotal moment. Voters in several states will decide on adult-use cannabis this November, and lawmakers in others are debating THC drink regulations. Public health leaders now have fresh data showing these products can deliver real harm reduction, not just new ways to get high.
For millions of Americans looking to drink less without feeling left out at the party, the answer may already be in the fridge.
