What is Excessive Alcohol Use?

What is excessive alcohol use?

Excessive drinking includes:

• Binge drinking: For women, binge drinking is 4 or more drinks consumed on one occasion (one occasion = 2-3 hours). For men, binge drinking is 5 or more drinks consumed on one occasion.
• Underage drinking: Any alcohol use by those under age 21.
• Heavy drinking: For women, heavy drinking is 8 drinks or more per week. For men, heavy drinking is 15 drinks or more per week.
• Pregnant drinking: Any alcohol use by pregnant women

What is considered a "drink"?

U.S. standard drink sizes:

• 12 ounces of 5% ABV beer
• 8 ounces of 7% ABV malt liquor
• 5 ounces of 12% ABV wine
• 1.5 ounces of 40% ABV (80-proof) distilled spirits or liquor (examples: gin, rum, vodka, whiskey)

How does excessive drinking affect us?

• 88,000 deaths per year
• Violence, injuries, and motor vehicle crashes
• Risky sexual behaviors, unintended pregnancies, miscarriage and stillbirth
• 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 or alcoholics

If you choose to drink, do so in moderation

• No one should begin drinking or drink more frequently based on potential health benefits
• Up to 1 drink a day for women
• Up to 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 made worse by drinking

For more information: www.cdc.gov/alcohol

What is excessive alcohol use? [PDF - 722KB]