Excessive alcohol use is common and costly. Learn more about its impact.
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- Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking (drinking 5 or more drinks on an occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on an occasion for women), heavy drinking (drinking 15 or more drinks per week for men or 8 or more drinks per week for women), and any alcohol use by people younger than 21 or pregnant women.
- Excessive alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of injuries, chronic diseases such as liver disease and heart disease, several cancers, and poor pregnancy outcomes.
- According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, more than half of US adults report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days. Approximately 17% of adults binge drink and 7% report heavy drinking. Nearly all adults who drink heavily also binge drink.
- According to theARDI application, during 2020–2021, excessive alcohol use was responsible for about 178,000 deaths and 4 million years of potential life lost each year, on average. More than one third of these deaths and nearly half of the years of potential life lost were due to binge drinking.
The prevalence of binge drinking, the number of drinks consumed (intensity), and how often people binge drink (frequency) affect the risk for injury, disease, and death.
| State | Binge drinking prevalence†, % (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 13.7 (12.3-15.3) |
| Alaska | 17.7 (16.1-19.5) |
| Arizona | 17.2 (16.0-18.4) |
| Arkansas | 13.9 (12.3-15.7) |
| California | 15.5 (14.3-16.8) |
| Colorado | 19.5 (18.6-20.5) |
| Connecticut | 15.0 (13.8-16.2) |
| Delaware | 14.0 (12.3-16.0) |
| District of Columbia | 20.7 (18.8-22.9) |
| Florida* | 15.1 (13.4-16.8) |
| Georgia | 15.2 (13.8-16.6) |
| Hawaii | 18.2 (17.0-19.6) |
| Idaho | 15.1 (13.9-16.3) |
| Illinois | 16.1 (14.4-18.0) |
| Indiana | 16.7 (15.7-17.8) |
| Iowa | 21.8 (20.6-23.0) |
| Kansas | 18.9 (18.0-19.7) |
| Kentucky | 13.8 (12.4-15.3) |
| Louisiana | 18.3 (16.7-20.0) |
| Maine | 17.8 (16.5-19.1) |
| Maryland | 14.1 (13.2-15.1) |
| Massachusetts | 17.6 (16.4-18.8) |
| Michigan | 17.6 (16.4-18.8) |
| Minnesota | 19.3 (18.5-20.1) |
| Mississippi | 13.4 (11.8-15.1) |
| Missouri | 18.1 (17.0-19.4) |
| Montana | 22.9 (21.4-24.4) |
| Nebraska | 20.8 (19.7-21.8) |
| Nevada | 13.8 (11.9-15.9) |
| New Hampshire | 16.0 (14.5-17.7) |
| New Jersey | 15.8 (14.6-17.0) |
| New Mexico | 14.7 (13.3-16.1) |
| New York | 16.0 (15.2-16.7) |
| North Carolina | 16.8 (15.5-18.3) |
| North Dakota | 21.7 (20.2-23.3) |
| Ohio | 18.5 (17.4-19.6) |
| Oklahoma | 12.5 (11.3-13.9) |
| Oregon | 17.2 (15.9-18.5) |
| Pennsylvania | 16.8 (15.5-18.1) |
| Rhode Island | 18.9 (17.3-20.6) |
| South Carolina | 16.2 (15.0-17.6) |
| South Dakota | 21.1 (18.7-23.8) |
| Tennessee | 15.5 (14.1-17.1) |
| Texas | 17.1 (15.7-18.5) |
| Utah | 11.7 (10.9-12.5) |
| Vermont | 19.2 (17.6-21.0) |
| Virginia | 16.2 (15.1-17.4) |
| Washington | 16.1 (15.2-17.0) |
| West Virginia | 13.4 (12.2-14.7) |
| Wisconsin | 23.5 (21.8-25.3) |
| Wyoming | 17.2 (15.4-19.1) |
Abbreviation: CI=confidence interval.
*Due to 2021 data not being available, 2020 data were used for Florida’s estimates.
†Males reporting having five or more drinks on one occasion, females reporting having four or more drinks on one occasion, in the past 30 days.
| No. of drinks†(95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Median | 75th Percentile | |
| Overall, unadjusted | 5.4 (5.4–5.5) | 7.5 (7.4–7.6) |
| Alabama | 5.5 (5.3–5.7) | 7.4 (6.7–7.9) |
| Alaska | 5.5 (5.3–5.7) | 8.1 (7.3–9.4) |
| Arizona | 5.4 (5.3–5.6) | 7.7 (7.3–8.5) |
| Arkansas | 5.6 (5.3–5.8) | 7.8 (7.1–9.3) |
| California | 5.4 (5.3–5.6) | 7.3 (7.0–7.7) |
| Colorado | 5.5 (5.4–5.6) | 7.4 (7.1–7.6) |
| Connecticut | 5.2 (5.0–5.4) | 6.5 (5.9–7.3) |
| Delaware | 5.0 (4.8–5.2) | 6.3 (5.8–7.3) |
| District of Columbia | 5.0 (4.8–5.2) | 6.3 (5.9–7.0) |
| Florida* | 5.2 (5.0–5.5) | 7.2 (6.4–7.7) |
| Georgia | 5.5 (5.3–5.6) | 7.2 (6.6–7.8) |
| Hawaii | 5.6 (5.4–5.8) | 9.1 (7.8–9.6) |
| Idaho | 5.5 (5.3–5.6) | 7.5 (6.8–8.4) |
| Illinois | 5.5 (5.2–5.7) | 7.6 (6.8–9.0) |
| Indiana | 5.5 (5.4–5.6) | 7.5 (7.1–7.9) |
| Iowa | 5.8 (5.7–5.9) | 9.1 (7.9–9.4) |
| Kansas | 5.5 (5.4–5.6) | 7.8 (7.4–8.4) |
| Kentucky | 5.6 (5.4–5.8) | 9.1 (7.7–9.5) |
| Louisiana | 5.5 (5.3–5.7) | 8.5 (7.5–9.4) |
| Maine | 5.5 (5.3–5.6) | 7.4 (6.8–7.9) |
| Maryland | 5.3 (5.2–5.4) | 6.7 (6.3–7.1) |
| Massachusetts | 5.3 (5.2–5.4) | 6.5 (6.1–6.9) |
| Michigan | 5.4 (5.2–5.6) | 7.5 (7.0–8.0) |
| Minnesota | 5.6 (5.5–5.7) | 7.7 (7.5–7.9) |
| Mississippi | 5.4 (5.2–5.7) | 8.1 (6.8-10.0) |
| Missouri | 5.6 (5.4–5.7) | 7.8 (7.4–8.5) |
| Montana | 5.5 (5.4–5.6) | 7.5 (7.1–7.8) |
| Nebraska | 5.6 (5.5–5.7) | 8.0 (7.7–9.0) |
| Nevada | 5.1 (4.9–5.5) | 7.1 (5.9–7.7) |
| New Hampshire | 5.2 (5.0–5.4) | 6.8 (6.2–7.5) |
| New Jersey | 5.3 (5.2–5.5) | 7.1 (6.4–7.6) |
| New Mexico | 5.3 (5.1–5.5) | 7.3 (6.6–8.0) |
| New York | 5.3 (5.2–5.4) | 6.8 (6.4–7.1) |
| North Carolina | 5.3 (5.2–5.5) | 6.8 (6.0–7.5) |
| North Dakota | 5.9 (5.7–6.3) | 9.5 (9.1–9.8) |
| Ohio | 5.5 (5.4–5.7) | 7.9 (7.6–9.0) |
| Oklahoma | 5.5 (5.3–5.8) | 8.6 (7.5–9.3) |
| Oregon | 5.4 (5.3–5.6) | 6.9 (6.5–7.3) |
| Pennsylvania | 5.4 (5.3–5.6) | 7.4 (7.0–7.8) |
| Rhode Island | 5.4 (5.2–5.6) | 7.3 (6.6–7.9) |
| South Carolina | 5.5 (5.4–5.7) | 7.5 (7.0–7.9) |
| South Dakota | 5.7 (5.4–5.9) | 7.7 (7.1–9.3) |
| Tennessee | 5.5 (5.3–5.7) | 7.5 (6.9–8.0) |
| Texas | 5.5 (5.3–5.6) | 8.0 (7.1–9.3) |
| Utah | 5.5 (5.4–5.7) | 8.2 (7.5–9.3) |
| Vermont | 5.5 (5.3–5.7) | 7.7 (7.2–8.4) |
| Virginia | 5.5 (5.3–5.7) | 7.7 (7.3–8.7) |
| Washington | 5.2 (5.1–5.3) | 6.9 (6.5–7.3) |
| West Virginia | 5.8 (5.6–5.9) | 9.4 (8.9–9.8) |
| Wisconsin | 5.5 (5.3–5.6) | 7.8 (7.4–9.0) |
| Wyoming | 5.5 (5.2–5.7) | 8.6 (7.1–9.4) |
Abbreviation: CI = confidence interval.
* Due to 2021 data not being available, 2020 data were used for Florida’s estimates.
† Largest number of drinks consumed on an occasion in the past 30 days among adults who reported binge drinking.
| No. of occasions†(95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Median | 75th Percentile | |
| Overall, unadjusted | 1.7 (1.7–1.8) | 4.2 (4.1–4.3) |
| Alabama | 1.9 (1.6–2.4) | 4.6 (3.8–5.5) |
| Alaska | 2.0 (1.7–2.5) | 4.7 (4.1–5.9) |
| Arizona | 1.7 (1.5–1.9) | 4.1 (3.8–4.6) |
| Arkansas | 2.4 (1.9–3.1) | 5.4 (4.6–7.3) |
| California | 1.7 (1.5–1.9) | 4.0 (3.5–4.5) |
| Colorado | 1.7 (1.6–1.8) | 4.0 (3.7–4.3) |
| Connecticut | 1.7 (1.5–1.9) | 4.1 (3.5–4.6) |
| Delaware | 1.7 (1.4–2.0) | 4.2 (3.4–4.7) |
| District of Columbia | 1.6 (1.4–1.9) | 3.6 (3.0–4.2) |
| Florida* | 1.8 (1.5–2.2) | 4.4 (3.7–5.2) |
| Georgia | 1.9 (1.7–2.3) | 4.7 (4.0–5.8) |
| Hawaii | 2.0 (1.8–2.3) | 4.4 (3.9–4.9) |
| Idaho | 1.7 (1.6–2.0) | 4.3 (3.8–4.7) |
| Illinois | 1.7 (1.4–1.9) | 4.4 (3.6–5.4) |
| Indiana | 1.7 (1.6–1.9) | 4.3 (3.9–4.7) |
| Iowa | 1.8 (1.7–2.1) | 4.8 (4.4–5.3) |
| Kansas | 1.8 (1.7–1.9) | 4.4 (4.1–4.7) |
| Kentucky | 1.7 (1.4–2.0) | 4.6 (3.7–6.0) |
| Louisiana | 1.9 (1.7–2.3) | 4.6 (4.0–5.4) |
| Maine | 1.7 (1.5–1.9) | 4.0 (3.6–4.6) |
| Maryland | 1.7 (1.5–1.9) | 3.9 (3.6–4.3) |
| Massachusetts | 1.6 (1.4–1.8) | 3.8 (3.4–4.3) |
| Michigan | 1.7 (1.5–2.0) | 4.4 (4.0–4.9) |
| Minnesota | 1.7 (1.6–1.8) | 4.2 (3.9–4.5) |
| Mississippi | 1.8 (1.5–2.3) | 4.3 (3.6–6.1) |
| Missouri | 1.7 (1.6–1.9) | 4.6 (4.1–5.0) |
| Montana | 1.6 (1.4–1.7) | 3.9 (3.5–4.5) |
| Nebraska | 1.7 (1.6–1.9) | 4.2 (3.9–4.5) |
| Nevada | 1.7 (1.4–2.1) | 3.7 (3.1–4.3) |
| New Hampshire | 1.7 (1.4–1.9) | 4.0 (3.5–4.7) |
| New Jersey | 1.6 (1.4–1.8) | 3.8 (3.4–4.2) |
| New Mexico | 1.7 (1.5–2.0) | 4.0 (3.5–4.6) |
| New York | 1.6 (1.5–1.7) | 4.0 (3.8–4.3) |
| North Carolina | 1.7 (1.5–1.9) | 3.8 (3.4–4.3) |
| North Dakota | 1.8 (1.6–2.0) | 4.2 (3.7–4.6) |
| Ohio | 1.9 (1.7–2.0) | 4.3 (3.9–4.8) |
| Oklahoma | 1.5 (1.3–1.8) | 3.9 (3.3–4.7) |
| Oregon | 1.8 (1.6–2.0) | 4.5 (3.9–5.0) |
| Pennsylvania | 1.6 (1.4–1.8) | 4.0 (3.5–4.4) |
| Rhode Island | 1.6 (1.4–1.9) | 3.7 (3.3–4.1) |
| South Carolina | 2.2 (1.9–2.7) | 4.7 (4.3–5.0) |
| South Dakota | 1.8 (1.6–2.4) | 4.4 (3.5–5.8) |
| Tennessee | 2.1 (1.8–2.5) | 4.5 (3.9–5.1) |
| Texas | 1.8 (1.6–2.1) | 4.3 (3.8–4.9) |
| Utah | 1.5 (1.3–1.7) | 4.2 (3.7–4.7) |
| Vermont | 2.1 (1.8–2.5) | 4.8 (4.4–5.8) |
| Virginia | 1.8 (1.6–2.0) | 4.7 (4.1–5.4) |
| Washington | 1.6 (1.4–1.7) | 3.9 (3.6–4.3) |
| West Virginia | 1.9 (1.7–2.4) | 4.9 (4.4–6.0) |
| Wisconsin | 1.6 (1.4–1.8) | 4.1 (3.6–4.5) |
| Wyoming | 1.9 (1.6–2.3) | 4.6 (3.8–5.7) |
Source: Binge drinking frequency among adults aged ≥18 years who binge drank in the past 30 days, by state — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2021*
Abbreviation: CI = confidence interval.
* Due to 2021 data not being available, 2020 data were used for Florida’s estimates.
† Number of binge drinking occasions in the past 30 days among adults who reported binge drinking.
The Economic Costs of Excessive Drinking are High
- Excessive alcohol consumption costthe United States $249 billion in 2010. This cost amounts to about $2.05 per drink, or about $807 per person.
- Costs due to excessive drinking largely resulted from losses in workplace productivity (72% of the total cost), health care expenses (11%), and other costs due to a combination of criminal justice expenses, motor vehicle crash costs, and property damage.
- Excessive alcohol use cost states and DC a median of $3.5 billion in 2010, ranging from $488 million in North Dakota to $35 billion in California.
- Binge drinking was responsible for about three-quarters (77%) of the cost of excessive alcohol use in all states and DC.
- About $2 of every $5 of the economic costs of excessive alcohol use were paid by federal, state, and local governments.
| Location | Total Cost ($) | Cost per drink ($) | Cost per capita ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3,724,300,000 | 2.27 | 779 |
| Alaska | 827,200,000 | 2.25 | 1,165 |
| Arizona | 5,946,400,000 | 2.27 | 930 |
| Arkansas | 2,073,300,000 | 2.27 | 711 |
| California | 35,010,600,000 | 2.44 | 940 |
| Colorado | 5,056,500,000 | 2.14 | 1,005 |
| Connecticut | 3,029,000,000 | 2.04 | 847 |
| Delaware | 803,800,000 | 1.64 | 895 |
| District of Columbia | 918,400,000 | 2.14 | 1,526 |
| Florida | 15,322,200,000 | 1.82 | 815 |
| Georgia | 6,930,900,000 | 2.12 | 715 |
| Hawaii | 937,400,000 | 1.58 | 689 |
| Idaho | 1,137,900,000 | 1.62 | 726 |
| Illinois | 9,715,700,000 | 1.86 | 757 |
| Indiana | 4,468,200,000 | 1.96 | 689 |
| Iowa | 1,933,600,000 | 1.59 | 635 |
| Kansas | 2,075,800,000 | 2.18 | 728 |
| Kentucky | 3,194,500,000 | 2.36 | 736 |
| Louisiana | 3,801,400,000 | 1.91 | 839 |
| Maine | 938,700,000 | 1.58 | 707 |
| Maryland | 4,964,700,000 | 2.22 | 860 |
| Massachusetts | 5,634,600,000 | 1.93 | 861 |
| Michigan | 8,161,700,000 | 2.10 | 826 |
| Minnesota | 3,886,400,000 | 1.74 | 733 |
| Mississippi | 2,277,400,000 | 2.05 | 768 |
| Missouri | 4,603,600,000 | 1.83 | 769 |
| Montana | 870,800,000 | 1.73 | 880 |
| Nebraska | 1,166,500,000 | 1.61 | 639 |
| Nevada | 2,296,300,000 | 1.49 | 850 |
| New Hampshire | 959,900,000 | 0.92 | 729 |
| New Jersey | 6,175,200,000 | 1.70 | 702 |
| New Mexico | 2,232,900,000 | 2.77 | 1,084 |
| New York | 16,330,200,000 | 2.28 | 843 |
| North Carolina | 7,034,200,000 | 2.11 | 738 |
| North Dakota | 487,600,000 | 1.40 | 725 |
| Ohio | 8,519,800,000 | 2.10 | 739 |
| Oklahoma | 3,081,200,000 | 2.49 | 821 |
| Oregon | 3,520,200,000 | 2.08 | 919 |
| Pennsylvania | 9,544,200,000 | 1.92 | 751 |
| Rhode Island | 886,500,000 | 1.82 | 842 |
| South Carolina | 3,982,900,000 | 2.13 | 861 |
| South Dakota | 598,200,000 | 1.59 | 735 |
| Tennessee | 4,683,800,000 | 2.25 | 738 |
| Texas | 18,820,600,000 | 1.99 | 748 |
| Utah | 1,636,100,000 | 2.74 | 592 |
| Vermont | 513,000,000 | 1.66 | 820 |
| Virginia | 6,126,000,000 | 2.06 | 766 |
| Washington | 5,805,100,000 | 2.23 | 863 |
| West Virginia | 1,334,900,000 | 2.20 | 720 |
| Wisconsin | 4,452,900,000 | 1.62 | 783 |
| Wyoming | 593,100,000 | 2.33 | 1,052 |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Accessed November 13, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol-Related Disease Impact Application website. Accessed February 29, 2024.
Sacks JJ, Gonzales KR, Bouchery EE, Tomedi LE, Brewer RD.2010 National and State Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption.Am J Prev Med2015; 49(5):e73–e79.
