Noah Vinter
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are serious issues in the United States, with high associated death rates and negative consequences such as injury, aggression, and sexual assault. A 2021 study published in JAMA Psychiatry revealed that one in eight American adults, or 12.7% of the population, met the diagnostic criteria for AUD, with higher rates among men, Native Americans, people below the poverty line, and Midwesterners. This study also showed a 49% increase in AUD rates in the first decade of the 2000s. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2%) had AUD in the past year. This issue has also been exacerbated by the pandemic, with online liquor sales rising 262% year-over-year in the initial lockdown period.
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol use in the US by age and demographics
Alcohol use in the United States varies across different age groups and demographics. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 224.3 million people aged 12 and older (79.1% in this age group) reported ever consuming alcohol in their lifetime. This includes 111.1 million males (80.1%) and 113.2 million females (78.1%). When broken down by race, the survey found that:
- 24.5 million Black or African American people (70.5%)
- 144.3 million White people (84.7%)
- 4.9 million people of two or more races (79.8%)
- 37.9 million Hispanic or Latino people (72.6%)
- 10.9 million Asian people (62.2%)
- 890,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people (66.5%)
Looking specifically at youth aged 12 to 17, 5.6 million (21.6%) reported ever consuming alcohol. This includes 2.5 million boys (19.1%) and 3.1 million girls (24.1%). Among racial minorities, the survey found that:
- 541,000 Black or African American youth (15.1%)
- 3.1 million White youth (24.0%)
- 220,000 youth of two or more races (23.7%)
- 1.5 million Hispanic or Latino youth (22.4%)
- 44,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people (18.5%)
Shifting focus to adults aged 18 and older, 218.7 million (84.9%) reported ever consuming alcohol. An estimated 16.4 million people aged 12 and older (5.8%) reported heavy alcohol use in the past month. This includes 9.8 million males (7.1%) and 6.6 million females (4.5%). Breaking this down further by race:
- 7.4 million Black or African American adults (23.8%)
- 37.6 million White adults (23.9%)
- 1.3 million adults of two or more races (25.4%)
- 11.7 million Hispanic or Latino adults (25.7%)
- 88,000 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander adults (7.9%)
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is also prevalent in the United States, with 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2%) affected in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males (12.1%) and 12.0 million females (8.3%). When examining racial minorities:
- 3.3 million Black or African American people (9.6%)
- 18.7 million White people (11.0%)
- 841,000 people of two or more races (13.6%)
- 4.8 million Hispanic or Latino people (10.8%)
- 994,000 Asian people (5.7%)
- 156,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people (11.6%)
Among youth aged 12 to 17, 757,000 (2.9%) had AUD in the past year. This includes 270,000 boys (2.0%) and 487,000 girls (3.8%). When examining specific racial groups:
- 46,000 Black or African American youth (1.3%)
- 438,000 White youth (3.4%)
- 28,000 youth of two or more races (3.0%)
- 223,000 Hispanic or Latino youth (3.3%)
- 15,000 Asian youth (1.0%)
- 5,000 American Indian or Alaska Native youth (2.3%)
In Hawaii, alcohol-related deaths are more prevalent than anywhere else in the United States (excluding territories). Binge drinking is also common in the state, with 20.9% of adults over 18 binge drinking at least once per month. Excessive alcohol use has led to an average of 526 deaths annually in Hawaii.
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns also had a significant impact on alcohol consumption in the United States. Online liquor sales surged, and over half of Americans reported increased alcohol consumption during this period.
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Alcohol use disorder (AUD) statistics
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious health condition that affects a significant number of people in the United States. Here are some statistics highlighting the prevalence of AUD in the country:
Prevalence of AUD in the General Population
According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2%) had AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males (12.1%) and 12 million females (8.3%). The rate of AUD rose by 49% in the first decade of the 2000s, and currently, about one in eight American adults, or 12.7% of the population, meets the diagnostic criteria for AUD. This equates to approximately 31.9 million people when applied to the 2023 US population of approximately 251.3 million adults aged 18 and older.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
The prevalence of AUD varies across different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Native Americans have the highest rates of AUD (16.6%), followed by Whites (8.4% to 13.9%), Blacks or African Americans (9.6%), Hispanics or Latinos (7.2% to 8.3%), Asians (5.7%), American Indians or Alaska Natives (11.6%), and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders (data not available due to small sample size).
Binge Drinking and Heavy Alcohol Use
Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use are common among Americans and are associated with an increased risk of AUD. In 2018, 25.1% of adults aged 18 and older reported having at least one heavy drinking day in the past year. Binge drinking is also prevalent, with 24% of people aged 18 and older reporting binge drinking in the last 30 days. In Hawaii, 20.9% of adults over 18 binge drink at least once per month, with a median of 5.7 drinks per binge.
Alcohol-Related Mortality
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and AUD contribute to a significant number of deaths in the United States. Alcoholic liver disease is the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths, accounting for 19.1% of all fatalities. Alcohol poisoning is another leading cause, responsible for 32% of acute alcohol-related deaths. Additionally, 22.5% of acute alcohol-related deaths are due to suicide. Overall, nearly 100,000 annual deaths are attributable to alcohol abuse, with more than half resulting from long-term use.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated quarantines significantly impacted alcohol consumption in the United States. Online liquor sales surged, and over half of Americans reported increased alcohol consumption during the lockdowns. However, statistics from this period may be misleading due to the unique circumstances of the pandemic.
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Alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are major problems in the United States, with millions of Americans drinking alcohol at least once in their lifetime. Alcohol is a significant contributor to premature death and morbidity in the country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), excessive alcohol use is responsible for 7.1% of diseases among males and 2.2% among females.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) estimates that there are more than 178,000 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use annually (approximately 120,000 male deaths and 59,000 female deaths), making alcohol one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States. Alcoholic liver disease is the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths, responsible for 19.1% of all such fatalities. Other leading causes include alcohol poisoning, which accounts for 32% of acute alcohol-related deaths, and suicide, which accounts for 22.5% of acute alcohol-related deaths.
In 2022, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 13,524 deaths, or 32% of overall driving fatalities. Drunk driving fatalities have been on a decline since 1991, and in 2019, they reached their lowest point since record-keeping began in 1982. However, drunk driving remains a significant issue, with approximately 28 to 30 people losing their lives every day in accidents involving drunk driving.
Alcohol-related death rates vary across different states and demographic groups. In 2019, 30 states had alcohol-related death rates in the double digits, compared to only 10 states in 2006. New Mexico had the highest death rate at 34.3 deaths per 100,000 people, while Hawaii had the lowest at 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people. American Indians/Alaskan Natives had the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths among racial groups, followed by White/Caucasians.
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Alcohol consumption during COVID-19
Alcohol sales and consumption increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a survey conducted in May 2020, 34.1% of participants reported binge drinking, and 7.0% reported extreme binge drinking. Another survey found that 60.1% of participants drank more alcohol after March 1, 2020, with 34.1% binge drinking and 7.0% engaging in extreme binge drinking.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had unintended consequences, and the long-term impact of increased alcohol consumption during this time is not yet fully understood. However, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Georgia Tech have projected that alcohol-related liver disease cases will rise dramatically in the coming years without intervention to reduce high-risk drinking rates. They estimate that a one-year increase in alcohol consumption during the pandemic will result in 8,000 additional deaths from alcohol-related liver disease, 18,700 cases of liver failure, and 1,000 cases of liver cancer by 2040.
In the short term, alcohol consumption changes due to COVID-19 are expected to cause 100 additional deaths and 2,800 additional cases of liver failure by 2023. Additionally, a sustained increase in alcohol consumption for more than a year could result in a 19-35% additional mortality rate.
While the pandemic and quarantines of 2020 significantly impacted alcohol consumption nationwide, the statistics from this period may be misleading. The impact of the pandemic on alcohol consumption was also studied in Poland, where 14.6% of participants reported an increase in alcohol consumption.
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) have severe consequences and can be deadly. Alcohol use disorder affects a significant portion of the population, with 10.2% of Americans aged 12 and older meeting the criteria for AUD in 2020. Alcohol is associated with negative consequences such as injury and aggression, and it is a factor in many sexual assaults and deaths. Alcoholic liver disease is the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths, and nearly 100,000 people die annually in the United States due to alcohol abuse, with more than half of these deaths attributed to long-term use.
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Alcoholism rates by gender
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcoholism impacts people from all walks of life. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2% of this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes:
- 16.8 million males aged 12 and older (12.1% in this age group)
- 12 million females aged 12 and older (8.3% in this age group)
The above statistics indicate that males are consistently twice as likely to report excessive alcohol use than females. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that excessive alcohol use is responsible for 7.1% of diseases among males and 2.2% among females.
The 2023 NSDUH survey also found that 16.4 million people aged 12 and older (5.8% in this age group) reported heavy alcohol use in the past month. This includes:
- 9.8 million males aged 12 and older (7.1%)
- 6.6 million females aged 12 and older (4.5%)
While the differences in alcohol use and related harms between males and females in the United States have diminished over the past century, males still consume more alcohol and experience and cause more alcohol-related injuries. For instance, in Hawaii, 72.6% of people who die from excessive alcohol use are male.
It is also important to note that the COVID-19 lockdowns significantly impacted alcohol consumption in the United States. Over half of Americans increased their alcohol consumption during this period.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 224.3 million people ages 12 and older (79.1% in this age group) reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime.
It is estimated that 12.7% of the US population meets the diagnostic criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), commonly known as alcoholism. This equates to roughly one in every eight American adults.
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and AUD kill over 3 million people worldwide each year, with nearly 100,000 annual deaths attributable to alcohol abuse in the US alone.
In 2018, 5.1% of adults engaged in heavy drinking in the past year. This equates to approximately 1 in 20 adults aged 18 and over.
The pandemic and quarantines of 2020 significantly impacted alcohol consumption nationwide, with online liquor sales rising 262% year-over-year in the first three weeks of March 2020. Over half of Americans reported increased alcohol consumption during COVID-19 lockdowns.
