1

 www http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns

About 2 in 3 high school students 

who drink, binge drink.

1 in 4

Nearly 1 in 4 adults 18-34 

years of age report binge 

drinking during the past 

month.

Binge Drinking 33M+

More than 33 million US adults 

binge drink each year.

2 in 3

Binge drinking* is a dangerous behavior for all 

ages. Drinking too much, including binge drinking, 

causes more than 79,000 deaths in the US each 

year and is a leading preventable cause of death. 

Binge drinking has not been well-recognized as 

a public health problem. More than 15% of US 

adults report binge drinking. It is most common 

in men, adults in the 18–34 age range, and people 

with household incomes of $75,000 or more. This 

is a community issue, not just an individual issue. 

This CDC report points out how common binge 

drinking is and what can be done about it. 

*Binge drinking means men drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks within 

a short period of time or women drinking 4 or more drinks during a 

short period of time.

Learn what you can do to reduce binge drinking.

 See page 4

Want to learn more? Visit

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

Division of Adult and Community Health

October 2010
Problem

2

Binge Drinking

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is common and dangerous 

but is not a well-recognized public 

health problem. 

1. Binge drinking is common across 

all ages.

◊ Binge drinking happens more than 4 million 

times a day in the US among adults. 

◊ Binge drinking is most common among men, 

adults in the 18-34 age range, and people with 

household incomes of $75,000 or more. 

◊ About 2 in 3 high school students who drink 

alcohol report binge drinking during the past 

month. 

◊ The drinking behavior of adults affects the 

drinking behavior of youth by the example 

it sets.

◊ Binge drinking can harm the individual, 

family, and community in many ways.

2. Binge drinking is a major public 

health problem.

◊ The percentage of adults who binge drink has 

not declined for more than 15 years.

◊ Sales information on alcohol suggests people 

may be drinking even more than they report.

◊ Binge drinkers usually become impaired.

◊ Binge drinking increases the chances of 

car crashes, violence against others, spread 

of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases 

(STDs), unplanned pregnancy, sudden 

infant death syndrome (SIDS), and babies 

born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. 

◊ Most people who binge drink are not 

alcohol-dependent or alcoholics.

Can lead to

Motor Vehicle Crashes

Violence Against Others

Spread of HIV and Sexually Transmitted 

Diseases (STDs)

Unplanned Pregnancy

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and 

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Alcohol Dependence
3

AL

AZ

AR

CA CO

CT

FL

GA

IL IN

IA

KS

KY

LA

ME

MI

MN

MS

MO

NE

NH

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

D.C.

WA

WV

WI ID

MT

NV

NM

WY

HI

AK

RI

MA

NJ

DE

MD

6.8%–14.2% 14.3%–17.1% 17.2%–23.9%

Less than

$25,000

$75,000

or More

12%

15%

17%

19%

High School

Students

Years

Years

Years

Years

or Older

65 Years

24%

26%

23%

18%

12%

4%

US State Info

Binge drinking by age, US, 2009

Binge drinking increases with household 

income, US, 2009

Binge drinking varies from state to 

state, and estimates of adults who 

binge drink range from 6.8% in 

Tennessee to 23.9% in Wisconsin. 

Binge drinking is most common in 

the Midwest, North Central Plains, 

lower New England, Delaware, 

Alaska, Nevada, and the District 

of Columbia. Comparing 2009 

to 1993, binge drinking among 

adults increased significantly in 

20 states, stayed the same in 29 

states, and declined significantly in 

2 states.

SOURCE: High school binge drinking values: Youth Risk 

Behavior Surveillance System, US. Adult binge drinking 

values: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, US.

SOURCE: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance 

System, adults aged 18 and older, US.

Who Drinks 

Too Much?

Prevalence of Binge Drinking Among Adults, 2009 – 

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, US.
4

For more information, please contact 

Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

TTY: 1-888-232-6348

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Web: www.cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333

Publication date: 10/05/2010

What Can Be Done

Binge drinking is a dangerous but preventable public health 

problem that requires action at all levels of society.

The US Government can

◊ Promote programs and policies that work to 

prevent binge drinking.

◊ Provide states and communities with information 

and tools to put into practice prevention 

strategies that work.

◊ Evaluate program and policy effectiveness.

◊ Track trends in binge drinking.

States and communities can

◊ Review interventions that are known to work 

to reduce binge drinking. Local leaders should 

consider adopting one or more interventions, 

choosing those that are feasible, efficient, and 

acceptable in their jurisdiction. 

◊ Reduce alcohol marketing to youth.

◊ Grow partnerships between schools, community 

organizations, law enforcement, and public 

health agencies to reduce binge drinking.

◊ More information about effective local 

interventions can be found in The Guide to 

Community Preventive Services at http://

www.thecommunityguide.org/index.html.

Doctors, nurses, 

and other providers can

◊ Choose not to binge drink themselves.

◊ Screen patients for binge drinking and use 

behavioral counseling to reduce problem 

drinking.More information can be found at 

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.

org/uspstf/uspsdrin.htm.

◊ Support community efforts to reduce binge 

drinking.

All people can

◊ Choose not to binge drink themselves 

and help others not to do it. 

◊ Not drink and drive.

◊ Choose not to drink if they are children or 

teens, pregnant, or may become pregnant.

◊ Talk with their health care providers about 

their drinking behavior and request counseling 

if they drink too much.

◊ Participate in community efforts to prevent 

underage and binge drinking.

 www http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns

 www http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

CS217272-B