Data on Excessive Drinking

Excessive alcohol use is common and costly. Learn more about its impact.

  • 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 the ARDI 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 cost the 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

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 ConsumptionAm J Prev Med 2015; 49(5):e73–e79.