Gallup gathers opinions on drinking habits, success, and U.S. standing as a world power

NewsWorks Tonight host Dave Heller sits down for his weekly conversation with Gallup’s Frank Newport to talk about trends in American opinion.

New analysis of Gallup data show that moderate drinkers are less likely than teetotalers or heavy drinkers to have been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime. About 41 percent of Americans are moderate drinkers. Moderate drinking is seemingly good for emotional health, as well as physical health.

Former student-athletes are more likely to fare well after graduation on various measures of well-being than their classmates.

And despite the slowdown in China’s economy, more Americans continue to believe China is the world’s leading economic power rather than the U.S. But Americans now predict that the U.S. will be the world’s leading economic power in 20 years.

One country that is really doing well in Americans’ minds these days is France, which as recently as 12 years ago was in the U.S. public’s doghouse.

Today, France is up there with English-speaking countries as the nation Americans like most.