Binge Drinking Costs America $224 Billion, Report Says

Excessive alcohol consumption cost the U.S. about $224 billion, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The costs come largely from the loss of workplace productivity (making up 72 percent of the total), while health care costs made up 11 percent, according to the CDC report. Nine percent of the cost came from criminal justice costs, while 6 percent ]was from drunk-driving related crashes.

The figures, based on 2006 data, the most recent data available, show that excessive drinking ended up costing each American about $746 per person.

"This research captures the reality that binge drinking means binge spending, not just for the person who drinks but for families, communities, and society," CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., said in a statement. "There are substantial costs to all of us in health care, the workplace, and criminal justice systems. Responsible individual behavior combined with the effective policies can decrease unhealthy drinking, reduce health care and other costs, and increase productivity."

The study will be published in the November issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Recently, research came out indicating that women born after World War II (meaning, today's women) are binge drinking and developing more alcohol disorders than their ancestors. That study, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, also found that the binge-drinking gap between men and women is shrinking.

Comments

[dbrett480]

12:44 PM on 10/28/2011

Am I the only one who thinks this number is pulled out of thin air?

[jstagynjax]

03:05 PM on 10/18/2011

The sad part of this is it's just adults with poor self control. I'm almost 32 years old, but if I have more than a couple of drinks a week, it's a rare occasion. But these people who feel they have to drink like they're retarded every time they go out, that's just immature. If the only way they feel they can have a good time is to consume large volumes of alcohol, then they need to seek professional help, because something isn't right in their lives. I feel I can speak from experience to this because I used to work in a night club, and have seen firsthand how irresponsible people can be when their out drinking. People getting sloppy drunk, falling over, knocking things around, vomiting, being loud and obnoxious. It's really pathetic. Alas, this seems to be part of the "American Condition," and isn't going to reconcile itself anytime soon.

[LifLngBerDrnker]

03:02 PM on 10/18/2011

The trouble with binge drinking is the government's defination of binge drinking. It is obviously concocted by non drinkers. When I first saw this, it was listed as four drinks. THAT IS LUNCH. They now defne it a little higher. But let's take a for instance. Stopping after work for a few beers with some fellow workers. two beers, two hours. Then go out for a pizza. half hour travel, one hour pizza and one beer. Go to hear a band. Half hour travel and one beer in one hour. Then go dancing. half hour travel, one beer in one hour. You are now a binge drinker by some dumb bureaucrats definition, five beers in an evening. That is in over 6 hours. You probably never exceeded .02 or .03 alcohol content, but the government insults you and tries to make you look bad for nothing but a normal light evening.
.....In order for it to be a binge, as any REAL DRINKER KNOWS, requires at least two nights and drinking all day, with the intent to get really wasted and succeeding. At least .20 most of the time. The government takes a bad word and tacks it onto normal light activity and tries to make normal activity look bad for some stupid control agenda of theirs. Pure BS.

[jstagynjax]

03:06 PM on 10/18/2011

The sad thing about it though, is that you feel you need to drink all those in order to enjoy yourself. Why can't you drink soda, tea, or water?

[LifLngBerDrnker]

04:25 PM on 10/18/2011

No. The real sad thing is that you think I need it. I have never liked soda and never will. Tea. Why? Water? I usually have a glass of water along with my beer when available. Lengthens the social time without getting drunk.

But the realty is, moderate drinkers are more fun to be around. Beer is a very social beverage, loosening up inhibitions and making people a little more free and at ease. You sound like a non drinker, so you are probably more boring and uninformed.

Beer is also very tasty, and can be very beneficial to your health. Every single study taken so far has shown that moderated drinking, one or two a day, is healthier then not drinking at all.

So, thank you, but I'll enjoy the fun and tasty and healthy aspects of moderate drinking for as long as I can. Over fifty years now and I'm more healthy then most 40 year olds.

[reltna08]

02:52 PM on 10/18/2011

I wonder what California loses to legal marijuana in the workplace and road accidents. But you can't smoke a cigarette in a bar.. How clever..

[4me2knw]

11:44 AM on 10/18/2011

Our government is so messed up on this issue. Let's keep alcohol legal and marijuana illegal. When mj is far less damaging. It's because they all drink on the hill and they can't admit the lies they've shoved down our throats for the past 40 years!

[manntxs]

01:52 PM on 10/18/2011

MJ is less damaging. Ok...I will run with that. My question is, however, at what percentage? 25%? 50%? What would the total be for MJ?

Let's keep in mind that 224 billion dollars translates into higher costs for us all. And, don't forget that doesn't include losses that do occur at lower levels of use.

[jstagynjax]

03:09 PM on 10/18/2011

Exactly. Yeah, its less physically harmful in smaller amounts, but a person becomes basically worthless when they're high. I've known plenty of people who "only smoke once in a while," but weren't worth a crap that once in a while; unreliable, uncoordinated, incoherent. Basically two steps up from being a total zombie.

[4me2knw]

03:40 PM on 10/18/2011

At what percentage? I didn't claim to be an expert. Do your own research. I know from first hand expierience. I've both smoked pot and been drunk. I know the difference. Do you? Plus, I'm old enough and watched first hand what our government has done from Nixon on up. Did you? Do you remember the Vietnam protests?

[jstagynjax]

01:32 AM on 10/20/2011

Sad thing about it, you're still proving my point. You need to seek professional help, not go out and get stoned. If you were abused as a child, that's almost certainly scarred you irreparably. And the whole "nunya" comment, sounds like I called you on your B.S., and that's the best response you've got. And where, in any acredited college that's not some hippy b.s. excuse for a school, are there classes that don't require proper spelling and grammar?

[4me2knw]

12:08 PM on 10/20/2011

Sad thing is your mind is made up. No matter what I say you're going to bash me. So, go ahead. I worked with both male and female inmates for 15 years so have a thick skin. I know who I am. You don't. The nunya comment is prison slang for none of your business and it's still none of your business. Just couldn't handle that could you? I've been in therapy for a total of 6 years for the abuse that happened to me and most people are amazed at how well I've done considering. Been there, done that. Trust me, which you can't, but try, the college I taught for is a highly respected school. They could see what I was teaching was valuable to the students even though I didn't correct their spelling. They understood. Too bad your mind is so closed you can't. I'll take the college's opinion over your's any day!

[wakohnen]

10:39 AM on 10/18/2011

The figures, based on 2006 data, the most recent data available, show that excessive drinking ended up costing each American about $746 per person.

This is total FICTION. Personally, other peoples drinking problems have not cost me a dime. I am sure the beer companies are making a fortune selling their product and they have full time employees on the payroll.....but i suppose this doesn't figure in anywhere? Totally stupid study, and I am not a drinker.

[reltna08]

02:57 PM on 10/18/2011

Hummm, I guess you don't have a car so you don't have car insurance or any kind of health coverage. It costs you..... drinker or not.....

[wakohnen]

03:30 PM on 10/18/2011

health is fully paid by employer.....auto insurance is under $75 a month....no problem. :)>

[jstagynjax]

03:11 PM on 10/18/2011

Oh, no it costs you nothing. Oh, except for the road repair when a drunk crashed into a road barrier or street sign. Oh, except for your insurance costs, when all the other drunks are getting into wrecks, needing to be taken care of. Oh, except for the loss of productivity, either at your workplace or at a business you may happen to visit which is shorthanded because one mindless fool went out the night before, and was so hungover he couldn't come to work. etc, etc, etc. (get the point?)

[exoticdoc2]

10:09 AM on 10/18/2011

Okay, hold people accountable and save the dollars. Fire those who make a habit of this (in this economy it won't be hard to fill the position), impose much stiffer penalties for the illegal parts (large sums of money which will take in dollars rather than spending them), and quite providing tax funded health care, which is NOT the government's responsibility.

[davidlugh]

10:48 AM on 10/18/2011

Yes, please do. Vilify those who drink alcohol just as they do those who smoke. Post photos of obese people with diabetes and heart disease on each and every carton of beer and raise the price three fold. That money wil be earmarked for healthcare for those who have this disgusting habit.

[sensiblethoughts4u]

03:33 PM on 10/18/2011

Like I said, ANY behavior that is excessive costs everyone. Make these people who are excessive PAY for their own health care costs, damages, and clean up as well as serve some community service, and I bet we'll get some improvements.

[cesarvis]

09:22 AM on 10/18/2011

well they got the sheep to vilify smokers based on cost and fake concern for their health, then they got the sheep to vilify anyone that is not a size 2 based on cost and fake concern for their health, since this has been a proven way to institute behavioral controls on society in order for the government to not spend our tax dollars on us, now we have them working on efforts to get the sheep to vilify drinkers based on cost and fake concern for their health.....when will people realize this has nothing to do with concern for your health and everything to do with the government wanting to keep our tax dollars for their own pet projects....?

[jhooperaa]

09:04 AM on 10/18/2011

With Obama as President what else can you do but binge drink to forget.

[CeiThor]

09:36 AM on 10/18/2011

That's why I smoked weed while Bush was President.

[bfrjds1981]

11:49 AM on 10/18/2011

You never smoked weed before Bush or since he left office? Sorry to hear that. That stuff has been around for over 3,000 years and there is even talk of it in the bible being used in Holy Oils by Jesus himself. I guess you just went back to the safe stuff like Jack Daniels. I myself don't drink but have been known to fire one up once in awhile.
I have to say I have never done it and beat up my wife either. Never had a problem at work because I have never done it at work or on the way to work.

[reltna08]

03:00 PM on 10/18/2011

So I guess now the reason is Pelosi and Bam.... because for certain you didn't stop....

[sensiblethoughts4u]

03:35 PM on 10/18/2011

Well YOU must have been in a drunken stupor for the past 10 1/2 years!

[jhooperaa]

03:49 PM on 10/18/2011

Nope. You see I do not look to the government for anything. I have worked hard, paid taxes, bought a house I can afford, pay my bills on time, and am living the American dream. I am very comfortable financially. I am the person Obama and the OWS crowd hates.

[invmartyc]

09:00 AM on 10/18/2011

My stocks in beer and alcohol are doing great!

[wllharrington]

01:18 PM on 10/18/2011

But I understand 'porn' stocks do better. Not that it matters, 'sin' pays

[invmartyc]

01:41 PM on 10/18/2011

I am going out and invest a wad of money in Ron Jeremy's Hedgehog Productions!

[babby201]

08:58 AM on 10/18/2011

Usually when something contains "Costs the US" ,as in a study of our behavior ,what things we do that we should feel guilty about.My first reaction is for the "experts" to mind their own F N business.
and two why pander guilt ,who do they represent

[renner1999]

08:57 AM on 10/18/2011

We should do what Canada and some European nations do: De-glorify drinking as a rite of passage into becoming an adult by lowering drinking age to 18/19.

In Italy, kids grow up drinking small amounts of wine with meals. By the time they turn 18/19, drinking alcohol is not some rite of passage like it is in the USA.

[bfrjds1981]

11:38 AM on 10/18/2011

Can't let those kids have a beer at 18, that is just wrong. We will gladly put a M-4 rifle in their hands and send them off to fight in a war though. I know, it's been said before but it is still true.

[reltna08]

03:06 PM on 10/18/2011

At 18 you can hit what you shoot at with an M-4 but drinking they don't do so well. Every state that has upped their age limit from 18 to 21 has decreased the accident rate on their highways... Let's get real just who we want to kill... 18 yr olds or an enemy...

[renner1999]

05:52 PM on 10/18/2011

European nations allow drinking at age 18/19, but have much stricter DUI laws than the US. Perhaps a combination of lowering the drinking age and making penalties stiffer would do the trick. A nanny state where big brother says that you can get your leg blown off by an IED in Afghanistan at age 18, but get court-martialed and incarcerated for enjoying a cold beer with your Army buddies is stupid.

[Ted Cantu]

08:51 AM on 10/18/2011

Binge drinking is awesome

[sensiblethoughts4u]

03:41 PM on 10/18/2011

Don't plan on getting sympathy when your brain and kidneys turn to MUSH in the future. You'll pay the price, and I hope you'll also be paying your own health care costs too.

[reltna08]

08:24 PM on 10/18/2011

I think you can count on us paying the freight for this guy even when he is laying in an alley over a steam vent to keep warm...

[StevenRussell1]

08:35 AM on 10/18/2011

"Righteousness exalts a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).

Fools and foolishness.

It's about time we got right with God, and back to 'IN GOD WE TRUST', America.

[leavegakalone]

09:57 AM on 10/18/2011

A lot of drunk people in the Bible....

[wakohnen]

10:41 AM on 10/18/2011

and back to 'IN GOD WE TRUST', America.

Print it on every beer container :)>

[StephenJK]

08:13 AM on 10/18/2011

Gee, that's almost half (or is it a quarter) of the amount we spend on the defense budget. 72 percent of these costs are "lost productivity in the labor market"? Now I see why they're upset.