What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk of Alcohol-Related Harms

Overview

Why it matters

• Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death.
  • It is responsible for about 488 deaths per day in the United States.1
  • These deaths and alcohol-related illnesses can be prevented.

• Drinking excessively on an occasion or over time can have harmful effects on your health.
  • You can lower these health risks by drinking less.

• Excessive alcohol use can also increase the risk of harm to other people.
  • By creating environments that make drinking less an easier choice, you can improve the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, and others in your community.

Getting started

Improve your own health

You can:

• Drink in moderation if you choose to drink alcohol, or choose not to drink.
  • Drinking less is better for your health than drinking more.
  • Certain people should not drink at all, even in moderation.
• Talk with your health care provider if you have concerns about your drinking.
• Use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s National Helpline.
  • If you have concerns about your drinking, you can use the helpline to find help near you.

Support young people

Here's what you can do:

• Don't serve alcohol to those younger than 21.
• Support efforts to reduce underage drinking.

Help improve the health of your friends, loved ones, and community

Here's how you can help:

• Don't give alcohol to people who have already had too much to drink.
• Learn how proven strategies can reduce alcohol-related harms in your community.
• Know your state's alcohol policies.
• Support proven solutions that can help people choose to drink less and improve quality of life.