As Americans get ready to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, a new survey suggests one tradition isn’t going anywhere. Beer continues to be the drink most closely associated with America and the celebrations that bring people together.

According to a nationwide Morning Consult survey commissioned by the Beer Institute, nearly two-thirds of adults age 21 and older say beer is part of the American tradition. Almost the same number say beer is “as American as apple pie.”

Beer also ranked as the beverage Americans consider the most American. Fifty-five percent of respondents chose beer, putting it ahead of soda at 47 percent, iced tea at 43 percent, lemonade at 33 percent, liquor at 17 percent and wine at 14 percent.

The results come as little surprise to anyone who has spent time at a neighborhood cookout or baseball game. Beer has long been part of the country’s social traditions, and the survey suggests most Americans still see it that way.

“As our nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, Americans recognize that beer is a part of our traditions, milestones and gatherings,” said Brian Crawford, president and CEO of the Beer Institute. “This survey shows that Americans continue to see beer as an enduring part of our shared culture and heritage.”

Among respondents who consider beer part of the American tradition, 80 percent associate it with Fourth of July celebrations, and the same percentage connect it with backyard cookouts.

The holiday itself remains one of beer’s biggest occasions.

An overwhelming 95 percent of Americans who plan to host or attend a Fourth of July gathering expect beer to be part of the celebration. Sixty-two percent say it is a must-have, putting it alongside barbecue, music and fireworks as one of the holiday’s essentials. And nearly seven in ten respondents said beer plays an important role in how they celebrate Independence Day.

Crawford believes that connection is not limited to the Fourth of July.

“Beer’s story is America’s story,” he said. “Whether gathered around a grill, at a ballgame or with family and friends, Americans continue to raise a beer to the moments that matter.”

The survey also found that Americans expect beer to remain part of the nation’s identity well into the future. Nearly eight in ten adults, or 78 percent, believe beer will continue to play a central role in American culture and celebrations over the next 250 years.

The Morning Consult survey was conducted June 12 through June 14, 2026, among 2,201 U.S. adults age 21 and older. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.