Alcohol Consumption in the United States
- Drinking Trends: Data from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that among adults 18 and older, 86.4% had consumed alcohol at some point in their lives. Additionally, 70.1% reported drinking within the past year, while 56.0% had consumed alcohol in the past month.
- Binge and Heavy Drinking Patterns: In 2015, 26.9% of adults 18 and older admitted to binge drinking in the past month, while 7.0% reported engaging in heavy alcohol use during the same period. (Refer to the “Definitions” box for explanations of binge drinking and heavy alcohol use.)
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States
- Adults (18+): The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated that 15.1 million adults (6.2% of those 18 and older) had Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). This included 9.8 million men (8.4% of men in this age group) and 5.3 million women (4.2% of women in this group). Among adults with AUD, only 6.7% received treatment in the past year—7.4% of men and 5.4% of women
- Youth (12–17): An estimated 623,000 adolescents (2.5% of this age group) were diagnosed with AUD in 2015, including 298,000 males (2.3%) and 325,000 females (2.7%). Only 5.2% of adolescents with AUD received treatment, with 5.1% of males and 5.3% of females seeking help
Alcohol-Related Deaths
- Each year, approximately 88,000 people—around 62,000 men and 26,000 women—die from alcohol-related causes, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. The top two are tobacco use and poor diet combined with physical inactivity.
- In 2014, alcohol-impaired driving was responsible for 9,967 fatalities, accounting for 31% of all traffic-related deaths.
Economic Burden
- Alcohol misuse cost the United States an estimated $249 billion in 2010. The majority of this expense—approximately 75%—was attributed to binge drinking.
Global Impact of Alcohol Misuse
- In 2012, alcohol consumption was responsible for 3.3 million deaths worldwide, accounting for 5.9% of all global fatalities (7.6% among men and 4.1% among women)
- By 2014, the World Health Organization identified alcohol as a contributing factor to over 200 diseases and injury-related conditions, including alcohol dependence, liver cirrhosis, cancers, and injuries. In 2012, alcohol accounted for 5.1% of the global burden of disease and injury (139 million disability-adjusted life-years)
- In 2010, alcohol misuse ranked as the fifth leading risk factor for premature death and disability. Among individuals aged 15–49, it was the leading cause. For those aged 20–39, about 25% of deaths were alcohol-related
Impact on Families
- A 2012 study found that over 10% of children in the United States live with a parent who has alcohol-related problems, highlighting the significant impact of alcohol misuse on families.
Underage Drinking
- Prevalence of Alcohol Use Among Youth: According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 33.1% of 15-year-olds reported having consumed at least one alcoholic drink in their lifetime. About 7.7 million individuals aged 12–20 (20.3% of this age group) admitted to drinking alcohol in the past month, with 19.8% of males and 20.8% of females reporting recent alcohol use.
- Binge and Heavy Drinking Among Youth: In the same survey, approximately 5.1 million individuals (13.4% of those aged 12–20) reported binge drinking within the past month. This included 13.4% of males and 13.3% of females. Additionally, around 1.3 million young people (3.3% of this age group) engaged in heavy alcohol use, with rates at 3.6% for males and 3.0% for females.
- Consequences of Underage Drinking: Alcohol consumption during adolescence can interfere with brain development and increase the likelihood of developing Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Underage drinking is also linked to serious consequences such as injuries, sexual assault, and fatalities—including those resulting from car crashes.
Alcohol Use Among College Students
- Prevalence of Alcohol Use: The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 58.0% of full-time college students aged 18–22 drank alcohol in the past month, compared to 48.2% of their non-college peers.
- Binge Drinking: 37.9% of college students engaged in binge drinking in the past month, compared to 32.6% of non-college individuals in the same age group.
- Heavy Alcohol Use: 12.5% of college students reported heavy drinking in the past month, while 8.5% of non-college individuals did the same.
Consequences of College Drinking
- Research estimates that each year: 1,825 college students (ages 18–24) die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including car accidents.
- 696,000 students are assaulted by a peer who has been drinking.
97,000 students experience alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape. - About 20% of college students meet the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
- Around 1 in 4 students experience academic setbacks due to drinking, such as missing class, falling behind, or earning lower grades.
Alcohol and Pregnancy
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) prevalence in the U.S. was estimated by the Institute of Medicine in 1996 to range between 0.5 and 3.0 cases per 1,000 births.
- More recent studies from specific U.S. locations indicate higher rates, with FAS affecting 2 to 7 cases per 1,000 births. Additionally, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)—which includes a broader range of alcohol-related developmental issues—has been reported at rates as high as 20 to 50 cases per 1,000 births.
Liver Disease and Alcohol
In 2015, alcohol played a role in 47.0% of liver disease deaths among individuals aged 12 and older. This included:
- 49.5% of liver disease deaths among males (49,695 deaths).
- 43.5% of liver disease deaths among females (28,834 deaths).
In 2013, 47.9% of all cirrhosis-related deaths were linked to alcohol consumption. The highest proportions were among:
- 76.5% of cirrhosis deaths in individuals aged 25–34.
- 70.0% of cirrhosis deaths in individuals aged 35–44.
In 2009, alcohol-related liver disease accounted for nearly one-third of all liver transplants in the U.S.
Alcohol and Cancer Risk
Alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of developing cancers of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, liver, and breast.
Definitions
- Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): A chronic, relapsing brain disease marked by an inability to control alcohol consumption despite negative social, occupational, or health consequences. AUD varies in severity from mild to severe, but recovery is possible at any stage. The DSM-IV classified alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence separately, while the DSM-5 combined them into a single condition—AUD—with mild, moderate, and severe subcategories.
- Binge Drinking: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern that raises blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 g/dL. This typically happens after four drinks for women or five drinks for men within about two hours. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) considers binge drinking as five or more drinks for males or four or more drinks for females in a single occasion at least once in the past month.
- Heavy Alcohol Use: SAMHSA defines heavy alcohol use as binge drinking on five or more days within the past month.
- Low-Risk Drinking (According to NIAAA): Women: No more than three drinks per day and seven drinks per week. Men: No more than four drinks per day and fourteen drinks per week. Research shows that only about 2% of people who stay within these limits develop AUD.
- Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatality: A fatal crash involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of 0.08 g/dL or higher.
- Disability-Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs): A measure reflecting the total years lost due to premature death or years lived with a disability.
- Underage Drinking: Alcohol consumption by individuals under 21 years old, which is the legal drinking age in the United States.