The cost of excessive alcohol use in the U.S. escalated to nearly a quarter trillion dollars in 2010.
Implementing effective community-based interventions can help reduce excessive drinking and its associated costs.
Excessive alcohol use results in approximately 88,000 deaths annually in the United States and also significantly impacts the American economy, primarily through losses in workplace productivity, according to a study by the CDC.
Overview of study findings
1. Total costs
In 2010, the cost of excessive alcohol use in the United States reached $249 billion, averaging about $2.05 per drink.
The majority of these costs (77%) stemmed from binge drinking, which is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women and five or more for men.
Additionally, federal, state, and local governments covered two out of every five dollars of these expenses, highlighting the widespread financial burden of excessive alcohol consumption.
2. State costs
In 2010, excessive alcohol use cost states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) a median of $3.5 billion, with state-level costs ranging from $488 million in North Dakota to $35 billion in California. D.C. had the highest cost per person at $1,526, significantly above the national average of $807, while New Mexico had the highest cost per drink at $2.77, compared to the national average of $2.05.
3. Cost Breakout
Researchers found that excessive alcohol use affects not only the drinker but also those around them, with significant economic consequences.
The majority of the costs stemmed from losses in workplace productivity (72%), followed by healthcare expenses for alcohol-related conditions (11%), law enforcement and criminal justice costs (10%), and losses from motor vehicle crashes linked to excessive drinking (5%).
These estimates update previous CDC studies, which found that excessive drinking cost the U.S. $223.5 billion and cost states and D.C. a median of $2.9 billion in 2006.
However, researchers believe the actual cost of excessive drinking is still underestimated due to underreported or unavailable data on alcohol use.
Additionally, the study did not account for other significant costs, such as pain and suffering from alcohol-related injuries and diseases.
How can excessive alcohol consumption be prevented and its economic costs reduced?
Communities can implement effective strategies to prevent excessive drinking and reduce its associated harms and costs, including:
- Increasing alcohol prices through pricing strategies.
- Regulating the number and location of alcohol outlets (outlet density).
- Holding alcohol retailers accountable for injuries or damages caused by intoxicated or underage customers.
- Maintaining state-controlled alcohol sales rather than shifting to commercial privatization.