Understanding the True Cost of Alcohol in the United States

Alcohol is one of the most widely used—and widely underestimated—substances in the country. While social drinking is normalized, its long-term health effects are often hidden in plain sight. Each year in the United States, more than 140,000 people die from alcohol-related causes, making it the fourth-leading preventable cause of death.

More than 1 in 6 U.S. adults report binge drinking, and the rates have been rising steadily—especially among younger adults and women. The financial toll is staggering as well: excessive alcohol use costs the nation over $249 billion annually in lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and criminal justice system costs.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Alcohol-related harm isn’t equally distributed. Some states experience far higher rates of binge drinking, emergency room visits, and deaths than others—driven by factors like policy enforcement, cultural norms, and access to prevention programs.

This interactive map offers a state-by-state view of the alcohol landscape in America. By clicking on each state, you’ll uncover key statistics—including binge drinking prevalence and alcohol-attributable deaths—helping to paint a clearer picture of where intervention is most urgently needed.

Whether you’re a policymaker, educator, public health advocate, or simply sober curious, this map brings national data to your fingertips—highlighting why campaigns like Dry January® USA matter now more than ever.

Notes:
ED Visits = Estimated annual emergency department visits based on city/state data.
Policy Score = Measures how strict or comprehensive alcohol-related public health policies are. Higher scores = stronger policies (0–100 scale).

Last Updated on June 10, 2025

Sources:

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