1

Binge Drinking

The largest number of drinks 

per binge is on average 8.

Binge drinkers do so 

about 4 times a month.

More than 38 million US 

adults binge drink.

8

4X

1 in 6

January 2012

New estimates show that binge drinking* is a 

bigger problem than previously thought. More 

than 38 million US adults binge drink, about 

4 times a month, and the largest number of 

drinks per binge is on average 8. This behavior 

greatly increases the chances of getting hurt 

or hurting others due to car crashes, violence, 

and suicide. Drinking too much, including 

binge drinking, causes 80,000 deaths in the 

US each year and in 2006 cost the economy 

$223.5 billion. Binge drinking is a problem 

in all states, even in states with fewer binge 

drinkers, because they are binging more often 

and in larger amounts. 

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

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

short period of time.

Learn what your community can do to reduce 

binge drinking.

 See page 4

Want to learn more? Visit

Nationwide Problem, Local Solutions

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

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

Division of Adult and Community Health
2

Problem

Binge drinking is a

dangerous and costly

public health issue

Binge drinking is a bigger problem

than we thought. 

◊ Binge drinking is about more than just the 

number of binge drinkers. The amount and 

number of times binge drinkers drink are also 

important to address.

•	 Age group with most binge drinkers:

18-34 years

•	 Age group that binge drinks most often:

65+ years

•	Income group with most binge drinkers: 

more than $75,000

•	Income group that binge drinks the most 

often and drinks the most per binge:

less than $25,000

◊ Most alcohol-impaired drivers binge drink. 

◊ Most people who binge drink are not alcohol 

dependent or alcoholics. 

◊ More than half of the alcohol adults drink is 

while binge drinking. More than 90% of the 

alcohol youth drink is while binge drinking.

Binge drinking costs everyone.

◊ Drinking too much, including binge drinking, 

costs $746 per person, or $1.90 a drink, in the 

US in 2006. These costs include health care 

expenses, crime, and lost productivity.

◊ Binge drinking cost federal, state, and local 

governments about 62¢ per drink in 2006, 

while federal and state income from taxes on 

alcohol totaled only about 12¢ cents per drink. 

◊ Drinking too much contributes to over 54 

different injuries and diseases, including car 

crashes, violence, and sexually-transmitted 

diseases.

◊ The chance of getting sick and dying from 

alcohol problems increases significantly for

those who binge drink more often and drink 

more when they do. 

Motor Vehicle Crashes

Binge drinking

can lead to

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

How many people drink? How much? How often?

Percent of adults who binge drink

The average largest number of drinks consumed 

by binge drinkers on an occasion 

US State Info

SOURCE: 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Combined Landline and Cell Phone Developmental Dataset, Adults Aged 18 and Older, US

Binge drinking varies from state to state, 

and estimates of adults who binge drink 

range from 10.9% in Utah to 25.6% 

in Wisconsin. Binge drinking is most 

common in the Midwest, New England, 

the District of Columbia, Alaska,

and Hawaii.

The average largest number of drinks 

within a short period of time among 

binge drinkers ranges from 6 drinks in 

the District of Columbia to 9 drinks in 

Wisconsin. The largest number of drinks 

consumed by binge drinkers is highest 

in the Midwest and southern Mountain 

states (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and 

Utah), and some states such as Louisiana, 

Mississippi, and South Carolina where 

binge drinking is less common.

10.9% - 16.7%

16.8% - 18.6%

18.7% - 25.6%

Data Unavailable

HI

FL

AL

AZ

AR

CA CO

GA

IL

IA

KS KY

LA

ME

MI

MN

MS

MO

NE

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

WA

WV

WI ID

MT

NV

NM

WY

AK

CT

D.C.

NJ

DE

MD

NH

RI

MA

IN

HI

FL

AL

AZ

AR

CA CO

GA

IL

IA

KS KY

LA

ME

MI

MN

MS

MO

NE

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

WA

WV

WI ID

MT

NV

NM

WY

AK

CT

D.C.

NJ

DE

MD

NH

RI

MA

IN

6.0 - 7.1

7.2 - 7.7

7.8 - 9.0

Data Unavailable

 

Percent of US adults who binge drink 16.2% 20.2%

Average number of monthly binges 5.0 3.7

Average largest number of drinks consumed per binge 8.5 7.2

Income less

than $25,000

Income more

than $75,000
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: 1/10/2012

What Can Be Done

Everyone can help prevent binge drinking.

CS228830-B

* The Community Guide recommendations can be found at 

http://www.thecommunityguide.org/alcohol. 

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

US Government can

◊ Collaborate with states and communities to 

support effective community strategies to 

prevent binge drinking strategies such as those 

recommended by the Community Guide.* 

◊ Assist states and communities in tracking how 

many people binge drink, how often, and how 

much they drink when they binge.

◊ Help states and communities track and 

understand the laws and regulations that 

control the marketing and sale of alcohol.

◊ Work with states and communities to 

determine whether prevention strategies are 

working.

States and communities can

◊ Implement effective community strategies 

to prevent binge drinking such as those 

recommended by the Community Guide.*

◊ Routinely track and report how many people 

binge drink, how often, and how much they 

drink when they binge.

◊ Develop community coalitions that build 

partnerships among schools, community- and 

faith-based organizations, law enforcement, 

health care, and public health agencies to 

reduce binge drinking.

Doctors, nurses and other

providers can

◊ Recognize that drinking too much causes 

80,000 deaths in the US each year and 

contributes to over 54 different injuries

and diseases.

◊ Recognize that most binge drinkers are not 

alcohol dependent or alcoholics.

◊ Support effective community strategies 

to prevent binge drinking such as those 

recommended by the Community Guide.*

◊ Screen patients for binge drinking and advise 

those who do to reduce their use. More 

information can be found at http://www.

uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/

uspsdrin.htm.

People can

◊ Choose not to binge drink themselves and help 

others not to do it. 

◊ Drink in moderation if they do drink. The US 

Dietary Guidelines on alcohol consumption 

recommend no more than 1 drink per day for 

women and no more than 2 drinks per day for 

men. Pregnant women and underage youth 

should not drink alcohol.

◊ Support effective community strategies 

to prevent binge drinking, such as those 

recommended by the Community Guide.*

◊ Support local control of the marketing and sale 

of alcohol.

◊ Support the minimum legal drinking age of 21.