87+ Binge Drinking Statistics & Facts

Binge drinking is a common and dangerous pattern of alcohol consumption that has become a serious public health concern in the United States. Here are ten key statistics that highlight the scope of the problem:

Top 10 Binge Drinking Statistics

1. Among high school students, 15.5% reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.
2. Binge drinking is more common among men than women, with 22% of men binge drinking compared to 12% of women.
3. Binge drinking is more common among people with household incomes of $75,000 or more, with 20% of adults in this group engaging in binge drinking.
4. 90% of people who binge drink are not alcohol-dependent, meaning they do not have an alcohol use disorder.
5. 10% of pregnant women in the U.S. reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.
6. Binge drinking is responsible for 77% of deaths related to underage drinking.
7. The risk of experiencing an alcohol-related emergency room visit increases with the number of drinks consumed in a single episode of binge drinking.
8. Binge drinking costs the U.S. workforce $77 billion in lost productivity each year.
9. Binge drinking can lead to serious health problems such as liver disease, heart disease, and cancer.
10. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, is responsible for an average of 95,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

Binge Drinking Fast Facts

Beyond these key binge drinking statistics, there are many other facts that shed light on the impact of binge drinking in the U.S. Here are some of the most notable:

1. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on a single occasion.
2. Approximately one in six adults in the U.S. engage in binge drinking about four times a month, consuming an average of seven drinks per binge.
3. Binge drinking is most common among adults aged 18–34 years old.
4. The prevalence of binge drinking is highest in the Midwest, New England, and the District of Columbia.
5. More than half of all alcohol consumed by adults in the U.S. is consumed during binge drinking.
6. Binge drinking is responsible for over half of the 88,000 alcohol-attributable deaths each year in the U.S.
7. Binge drinking can also lead to risky behaviors, such as drunk driving and unprotected sex.
8. The economic cost of binge drinking in the U.S. is estimated to be $191 billion per year.
9. Binge drinking is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome and other birth defects.

How Common Is Binge Drinking?

• In 2019, 24.6% of adults reported binge drinking in the past month.
• Among adults who reported binge drinking, they did so an average of 4 times per month and consumed an average of 7 drinks per episode.
• Binge drinking is most common among young adults aged 18-34, with 32.5% reporting binge drinking in the past month.
• The prevalence of binge drinking varies by state, with the highest rates found in Wisconsin where 25.6% of adults reported binge drinking in the past month, and the lowest rates found in Tennessee where only 11.1% reported binge drinking.

Who Is Most Likely to Binge Drink?

• Binge drinking is most common among young adults aged 18-34, with 32.5% reporting binge drinking in the past month (source: CDC).
• Among high school students, 15.5% reported binge drinking in the past 30 days (source: SAMHSA).
• Binge drinking is more common among men than women, with 22% of men binge drinking compared to 12% of women (source: CDC).
• Binge drinking is more common among people with household incomes of $75,000 or more, with 20% of adults in this group engaging in binge drinking (source: NIAAA).

Prevalence of Binge Drinking in People Ages 12 and Older

According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 60 million people aged 12 and older in the US reported binge drinking in the past month, which is 21.5% of this age group. Binge drinking is defined as consuming a certain number of drinks within a short period of time. Here's the demographic breakdown of binge drinkers:

• Males: 32.2 million (23.5%)
• Females: 27.9 million (19.5%)
• White individuals: 37.5 million (21.9%)
• Black or African American individuals: 7.4 million (21.6%)
• American Indian or Alaska Native individuals: 381,000 (21.2%)
• Asian individuals: 1.8 million (10.7%)
• People of two or more races: 1.4 million (26.2%)
• Hispanic or Latino individuals: 11.4 million (22.9%)

Note that estimates for Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander people ages 12 and older were not presented due to a relatively small sample size or large margin of error.

Prevalence of Binge Drinking in Youth Ages 12 to 17

In the US, 995,000 youth aged 12-17 reported binge drinking in the past month, according to the 2021 NSDUH. This corresponds to a 3.8% prevalence rate. Binge drinking is defined as consuming a certain number of drinks within a short period of time.

• Boys: 401,000 (3.0%)
• Girls: 594,000 (4.7%)
• White youth: 602,000 (4.6%)
• Black or African American youth: 46,000 (1.3%)
• Asian youth: 13,000 (0.9%)
• Youth of two or more races: 28,000 (3.1%)
• Hispanic or Latino youth: 280,000 (4.2%)

Note that estimates for American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander youth were not presented due to a relatively small sample size or large margin of error.

Prevalence of Binge Drinking in Adults Ages 18 and Older

In 2021, 59 million US adults aged 18+ reported binge drinking in the past month, corresponding to a rate of 23.3%. Binge drinking is defined as consuming a certain number of drinks within a short period of time.groups is as follows:

• Men: 31.8 million (25.7%)
• Women: 27.3 million (20.9%)
• White adults: 36.9 million (23.3%)
• Black or African American adults: 7.4 million (23.9%)
• American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 370,000 (22.8%)
• Asian adults: 1.7 million (11.6%)
• Adults of two or more races: 1.4 million (30.9%)
• Hispanic or Latino adults: 11.1 million (25.8%)

Note that estimates for Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander adults ages 18 and older were not presented due to a relatively small sample size or large margin of error.

What Is the Number of Binge Drinks Consumed?

• On average, adults who reported binge drinking did so about four times a month, consuming an average of 7 drinks per binge (source: CDC).
• More than half of all alcohol consumed by adults in the U.S. is consumed during binge drinking (source: NIAAA).
• Binge drinking is responsible for over half of the 88,000 alcohol-attributable deaths each year in the U.S., and its economic cost is estimated to be $191 billion per year (source: NIAAA).

The Serious Risks of Binge Drinking

Binge drinking poses many serious risks to health and well-being. Here are some examples:

• Unintentional injuries: Binge drinking increases the risk of accidents and injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, burns, and alcohol poisoning. In fact, 1 in 6 adults report alcohol-related injuries.
• Violence: Binge drinking is also associated with a higher risk of violence, including homicide, suicide, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.
• Sexual health: Binge drinking can increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy, as well as poor pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage and stillbirth.
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Pregnant women who binge drink can also put their babies at risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
• Chronic diseases: Binge drinking is a significant risk factor for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease.
• Cancer: Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for nearly 10% of all cancer deaths, including breast cancer (among females), liver cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, mouth cancer, pharynx cancer, larynx cancer, and esophageal cancer.
• Memory and learning problems: Frequent binge drinking can also lead to memory and learning problems later in life.

Binge Drinking: Alcohol-Attributable Deaths

• Binge drinking is a serious problem that can lead to alcohol-related deaths. In fact, binge drinking is responsible for over half of the 88,000 alcohol-attributable deaths each year in the U.S. (source: NIAAA).
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2011 and 2015, an average of 93,296 deaths per year were attributed to excessive alcohol use in the United States. Of those deaths, about 50% were due to binge drinking (source: CDC).
• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that binge drinking is more common among people aged 18-34 years old, who are at higher risk for accidental injuries or death due to their behavior while intoxicated (source: NIAAA).
• Binge drinking also puts individuals at greater risk of developing chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease which can increase the risk of premature death (source: CDC).

The Economic Costs of Binge Drinking in the US

• Binge drinking costs the US economy billions of dollars every year. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol consumption, which includes binge drinking, cost the United States $249 billion in 2010 alone. This includes costs related to health care expenses, crime and criminal justice costs, and lost productivity.
• In addition, binge drinking leads to increased healthcare costs for individuals who engage in it. A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that people who binge drink have an average of $1,179 more in healthcare costs per year than those who do not engage in this behavior.

• The economic burden of binge drinking also extends to employers. According to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), employees who reported binge drinking were more likely to miss work or be less productive while at work compared to those who did not engage in this behavior. This results in an estimated annual loss of $191 billion for employers due to absenteeism and reduced productivity.

Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder: Facts and Figures

• Only about 7.9% of people who needed treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) actually received it, according to a study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
• In 2019, an estimated 1.5 million adults aged 18 or older received treatment for AUD at a specialized facility in the US.
• Among those who received treatment for AUD, about one-third attended self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), while around one-fifth received outpatient treatment.
• Research shows that evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing can be effective in helping individuals overcome binge drinking behavior.
• One study found that among young adults receiving CBT treatment for binge drinking, 78% no longer met criteria for an AUD at the end of treatment.
• Another study found that brief motivational interventions were effective in reducing binge drinking episodes among college students.

Effective Treatments for Binge Drinking: CBT, Motivational Interviewing and More

• The success rate of binge drinking treatment varies depending on the type of treatment and individual factors, but research has shown that it is possible to overcome binge drinking behavior with effective treatment.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be an effective treatment for binge drinking. One study found that among young adults receiving CBT treatment for binge drinking, 78% no longer met criteria for an AUD at the end of treatment.
• Motivational interviewing has also been shown to be effective in helping individuals overcome binge drinking behavior. One study found that brief motivational interventions were effective in reducing binge drinking episodes among college students.
• Other treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD), such as medication-assisted therapy and residential treatment programs, may also be effective in treating binge drinking behavior.
• It's important to note that not everyone will respond the same way to a particular type of treatment, and relapse is common. However, seeking professional help can greatly increase the chances of successfully overcoming binge drinking behavior.

Conclusion

Binge drinking is a serious issue that affects millions of people in the United States. It poses many risks to physical and mental health, including chronic diseases, injuries, violence, and even death. Moreover, binge drinking places a significant economic burden on society, costing billions of dollars each year in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.

Fortunately, there are effective treatments available for those struggling with binge drinking behavior. Evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing can help individuals overcome this harmful pattern of alcohol consumption. Seeking professional help can greatly increase the chances of successfully overcoming binge drinking behavior and achieving long-term recovery.

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_3223/ShortReport-3223.html

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