Common Questions About
What is excessive alcohol use?
Excessive alcohol use is a blanket term that includes four different ways people consume alcohol that can have negative health effects:
- Binge Drinking: 5+ drinks (men) or 4+ drinks (women) on a single occasion
- Heavy Drinking: 15+ drinks (men) or 8+ drinks (women) in a single week
- Drinking During Pregnancy
- Underage Drinking
Source: Centers for Disease Control (CDC). “Alcohol Use and Your Health.”
14 January 2025. Alcohol Use and Your Health | Alcohol Use | CDC.
How does excessive drinking affect us?
- 88,000 deaths per year
- Violence, injuries, and motor vehicle crashes
- Risky sexual behaviors, unintended pregnancies, miscarriages, and stillbirths
- Chronic conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure
- $249 billion economic cost
Binge drinking is the main problem.
- Over 90% of excessive drinkers binge drink.
- 1 in 6 (more than 38 million) U.S. adults binge drink.
- Binge drinkers do so about 4 times a month.
- Binge drinkers average 8 drinks per binge.
- Most people who binge drink are not alcohol dependent nor alcoholics.
If you choose to drink, do so in moderation
- No one should begin drinking or drink more frequently based on potential “health benefits”.
- Drink no more than up to 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men.
- Don’t drink at all if you are under age 21, pregnant or may be pregnant, or have health problems that could be worsened by drinking.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/alcohol.
Local & National Resources
We have gathered some resources to help you begin conversations and find additional information.
Choosing to drink less alcohol can help you be your best. Being your best could mean enjoying your golden years in good health, feeling refreshed and rested each morning, or having more money in the bank. Take the "Drink Less, Be Your Best" survey to assess your alcohol intake and make a plan to drink less.