Creator: SingleCare
Published: 2022-02-24T18:35:02-05:00

Although alcohol is often viewed as a recreational substance, it can have devastating consequences when abused. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol consumption is linked to 95,000 fatalities in the United States every year. This makes it a leading preventable cause of death in the country.

Men are more likely than women to consume alcohol heavily, and excessive drinking is most common among people ages 18 to 34 years old. Despite the devastating consequences, many people still abuse alcohol regularly. Not only can it cause chronic physical health issues, but it can also destroy personal relationships with loved ones.

Alcohol is also a tremendous economical burden. It has been estimated that alcohol abuse costs the United States billions of dollars in lost workplace productivity and extra healthcare expenses every year. The expenses are not limited to loss of wages, either; they can also involve legal fees and fines for crimes committed under the influence of alcohol.

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is a colorless liquid produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches. Its active ingredient, ethanol, causes intoxication. Most alcohol consumed in the U.S. is beer or wine, but it can also be found in other alcoholic drinks, such as cocktails and liquor.

“Alcohol, as a central nervous system depressant, is the most commonly consumed ‘substance’ in the world,” says Ginny Mills, a licensed clinical addiction specialist, owner of Full Life Counseling and Parenting Through Addiction, and author of Parenting Through Your Adult Child’s Addiction. “[Alcohol] is a lethal substance for about 10% of the American population.”

What may begin as light drinking, around three drinks per week or less, can quickly escalate. Moderate drinking refers to having four to seven drinks per week. Heavy drinking is defined as more than seven drinks per week for women and more than 14 drinks per week for men.

Excessive drinking increases the risk of developing an addiction to alcohol as well as numerous health problems, such as heart disease and liver damage. In addition to these risks, excessive drinking may make a person more likely to engage in risky behaviors that place them at further risk for health complications or causing harm to others.

Those who abuse alcohol may show signs of intoxication or experience withdrawal symptoms after they stop drinking alcohol. Intoxication refers to not being fully aware of one’s actions due to alcohol consumption. Withdrawal is the set of signs and symptoms that occur when a person stops consuming alcohol after a period of excessive drinking. These symptoms include sweating, shaking hands, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and anxiety. Withdrawal can also cause seizures in severe cases.

How common is alcohol consumption?

About 2.3 billion people worldwide are classified as being current drinkers. (World Health Organization, 2018)
More than 85% of adults have consumed alcohol at some point in their life. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2021)
In 2019, more than 139 million people in the U.S. ages 12 years and older reportedly drank alcohol in the past month. (SAMHSA, 2020)

Alcohol statistics by age

Approximately 414,000 adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17 years had an alcohol use disorder in 2019. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2021)
More than 47% of adults aged 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2021)
About 65% of adults ages 65 years and older reported drinking an excessive amount of alcohol in the past year, exceeding daily guidelines at least weekly (two drinks or less for men and one drink or less for women per day). (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020)

Underage drinking statistics

In 2019, 25% of teens ages14 to 15 years reported having at least one alcoholic drink.
In 2019, 7 million people ages 12 to 20 years reportedly drank alcohol in the past month.
People ages 12 to 20 years drink 4% of all alcohol consumed in the U.S.
More adolescent girls report drinking alcohol and binge drinking than adolescent boys.
Adults ages 26 years and older who began drinking before the age of 15 years are nearly six times as likely to have an alcohol use disorder than those who waited until at least age 21 to begin drinking.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2021

Binge drinking statistics

Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks (male) or four or more drinks (female) in about two hours according to the NIH. Binge drinking is common among young adults, although it affects all ages.

One in six adults binge drink about four times a month, consuming seven drinks per binge drinking episode, which is 17 billion binge drinks per year or 467 binge drinks per binge drinker. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)
People between the ages of 18 and 34 report binge drinking more than any other age group. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)
Binge drinking is twice as common in men than women, as 4 in 5 binge drinks are consumed by men. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)

Drunk driving statistics

In 2019, there were 10,142 alcohol-related driving fatalities in the U.S. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2020)
With 1,332 fatalities, Texas had the highest number of alcohol-related driving fatalities in 2019. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2020)
On average, around 28 Americans die each day as a result of drunk driving. (United States Department of Transportation, 2022)
Men are 50% more likely to be intoxicated drivers in fatal motor vehicle accidents than women. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)
Only 1% of the 111 million self-reported episodes of drunk driving results in an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)

Fetal alcohol syndrome statistics

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition that results when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. FAS causes growth problems in some babies, as well as intellectual disabilities or behavioral problems.

One in seven pregnant women (14%) reported consuming alcohol within the past 30 days.
One in 20 pregnant women (5%) reported binge drinking within the past 30 days.
Younger adults ages 25 to 34 were less likely to report drinking during pregnancy than older adults ages 35 to 49 years old.
The prevalence of drinking during pregnancy was highest in the District of Columbia (73%) and lowest in Utah (30%).
As many as 1.5 in 1,000 babies are born with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022

Alcohol and COVID-19 statistics

In March 2020—less than a month into stay-at-home orders—10% of survey takers reported drinking more alcohol. (SingleCare, 2020)
The most commonly reported reasons for increased drinking during the pandemic were stress (46%), increased alcohol availability (34%), and boredom (30%). (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020)
Increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic is estimated to cause 8,000 additional deaths from alcohol-related liver disease, 18,700 cases of liver failure, and 1,000 cases of liver cancer by 2040. (Massachusetts General Hospital, 2021)

Alcohol abuse statistics

Alcohol abuse refers to drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, despite the harm that may come to a person’s health, relationships, or other areas of their life, according to the CDC. It may also be called alcohol dependence or alcoholism.

More than 14 million adults have an alcohol use disorder. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2022)
About 1 in 10 children live in a home with a parent who has a drinking problem. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2022)
Approximately 25% of adults had at least one heavy drinking day in the previous year (five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women). (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
Males account for nearly 3 out of 4 deaths related to excessive drinking. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)
In 2017, nearly 3 out of 4 people with a substance use disorder had an alcohol use problem. (American Addiction Centers, 2021)

Alcohol consumption and overall health

Alcohol misuse accounts for as much as 6% of all global deaths combined, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS). This statistic shows that alcohol is a major health concern around the world.

When used excessively or heavily, alcohol can worsen health. Heavy drinkers often have various health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and liver cirrhosis.

More than 10% of hypertension cases in men are related to alcohol. (British Journal of General Practice, 2016)
Heavy drinkers who reduce drinking to moderate levels can lower their systolic blood pressure by 5.5 mmHg and their diastolic blood pressure by 4 mmHg. (Mayo Clinic, 2021)
About 35% of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis and 10% to 20% develop cirrhosis. (American Liver Foundation, 2022)
Ongoing alcoholism is the single most important risk factor for chronic pancreatitis. Findings from a large nationwide study showed that of all the deaths attributable to alcohol in 2016, 21% were due to digestive diseases (primarily pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis). (American Addiction Centers, 2021)
People who stopped drinking alcohol for one month lost 40% of their liver fat. (British Journal of General Practice, 2016)
Around 19% of alcohol-related deaths are linked to alcoholic liver disease. (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2022)
Suicide accounts for approximately 22% of acute alcohol-related deaths. (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2022)

The cost of alcohol consumption

In 2020, Americans spent an average of $478 on alcohol. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021)
The annual cost of alcohol-related car accidents is more than $44 billion. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)
The U.S. spends more than $4 billion per year on fetal alcohol syndrome. The lifetime cost for one person with fetal alcohol syndrome in 2002 was $2 million. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
Substance abuse, including opioids and alcohol, is responsible for about 15% of all national healthcare expenditures. (Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, 2017)

Causes of alcohol use disorder

There are a variety of physical, psychological, environmental, and genetic causes of alcohol use disorder. Physical causes may include damage to the brain or nervous system as a result of long-term alcohol abuse.

Psychological causes may include depression, stress, or anxiety. In a SingleCare survey, 21% of males and 16% of females reported drinking more alcohol as a coping mechanism for anxiety. Many resort to drinking as a means to cope with their feelings. Environmental causes may include easy access to alcohol or social norms that promote drinking. In adolescence, peers may encourage drinking.

Genetic causes of alcohol use disorder may also include a family history of alcoholism and mental disorders. Studies have shown that alcohol use disorder is more common in people with mental disorders.

While there is still a lot of research to be done on the biological and environmental causes of alcohol use disorder, it’s clear that risk factors such as genetics, social norms, and environmental triggers play a large role in addiction.

Preventing alcohol use disorder

There are a variety of ways to prevent alcohol use disorder. One way is to limit access to alcohol. This can be done by not keeping alcohol in the home, only drinking in specific places, or not allowing others to provide alcohol.

Another way to prevent alcohol use disorder is to be aware of the risks associated with drinking and to be mindful of how much alcohol is being consumed.

Finally, it’s important to have a support system in place for when times get tough. This may include talking to a friend or family member about drinking, going to behavioral health therapy, or joining a support group.

Several organizations focus on the prevention of alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder. These include:

Treating alcohol use disorder

Alcohol addiction is one of the most common forms of substance abuse disorders in the United States. Alcohol is considered an addictive drug because regular use can lead to physical dependence and addiction.

“The two most challenging aspects of addiction to any substance is the difficulty recognizing the loss of control and accepting total abstinence as the necessary ingredient for recovery,” Mills explains.“No one chooses alcoholism or addiction. No one. Once you’ve crossed that line, it takes a long time and lots of failed experiments with trying to drink with control again before acceptance really happens.” Mills adds that even after accepting your addiction, there are “constant challenges” that may interfere with the journey to abstinence.

Treating alcohol use disorder usually involves a mix of counseling, treatment programs, and medications. These medications may work by blocking the effects of alcohol or by decreasing the craving for alcohol.

Alcohol use disorder medications include:

There are also a number of experimental medications being studied for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. These medications are not yet FDA approved to treat alcohol use disorder, but they are sometimes prescribed off-label:

Several research studies are being conducted on new treatments for alcohol use disorder. One study is testing the effects of a “dual-drug” option to block or redirect pathways in the brain in order to end cravings and compulsive behaviors. The goal is to minimize the adverse effects that are regularly experienced with current treatment options.

Alcohol abuse questions and answers

What is the most consumed alcohol in the world?

Data on the world’s most consumed alcohol varies depending on whether you’re looking at recorded alcohol consumption or estimates of unrecorded production and intake. Many publications report Baijiu, an alcoholic beverage from China, as the world’s most consumed alcohol. According to the Journal of Ethnic Foods, Baijiu is a clear and distilled Chinese liquor produced from sorghum, wheat, rice, or other grains. It contains roughly 40% alcohol.

What age group is alcohol use disorder most common?

The Addiction Center reports that people in their early to mid-20s are the most likely to abuse alcohol and suffer from alcohol use disorders.

What state has the highest rate of alcoholism?

Wisconsin was in the top 10 percentile states for excessive drinking based on 2018 data reported by the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.

How many deaths are caused by alcohol each year?

More than 95,000 people die each year in the United States as a result of excessive alcohol consumption, as reported by the CDC.

What country has the most alcohol-related deaths?

Data on the country with the most alcohol-related deaths varies depending on whether you are looking at recorded alcohol consumption or estimates of unrecorded production and intake. Our World In Data reports Belarus as having the most alcohol-related deaths with 21 per 100,000 individuals dying from alcoholism, followed by Mongolia (16 per 100,000) and El Salvador (15 per 100,000). Singapore, Egypt, and Iraq had the least amount of alcohol-related deaths (less than 1 per 100,000 individuals).

What are the odds of staying sober during recovery from alcohol addiction?

One in three people who receive treatment for alcohol problems remain symptom-free after one year, according to a study cited by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Alcohol abuse research

Harmful use of alcohol kills more than 3 million people each year, most of them men, World Health Organization
Alcohol fact sheet, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 national survey on drug use and health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Substance abuse in older adults, National Institute of Drug Abuse
Underage drinking, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Binge drinking, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Traffic safety facts, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Drunk driving, United States Department of Transportation
Excessive alcohol use is a risk to men’s health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Impaired driving: Get the facts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Prevalence of FASDs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Treatment for alcohol problems, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Alcohol use, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Alcohol and drug abuse statistics, American Addiction Centers
Does alcohol affect blood pressure? Mayo Clinic
What is Dry January? British Journal of General Practice
Alcohol-related liver disease, American Liver Foundation
Pancreatitis and alcohol, American Addiction Centers
Alcohol abuse statistics, National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics
Consumer expenditures, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Cost of alcohol abuse, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies