Per capita alcohol consumption in the United States has increased in the past couple of decades to reach 2.51 gallons of ethanol per capita in 2021. Beer has accounted for the largest share of the alcohol market in the United States over most of the last decade, but was overtaken by spirits for the first time in 2022. Health risks Constant and excessive alcohol use has been shown to cause many health complications and increase the risk of many diseases. For example, alcohol consumption increases the risk of various types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease. The cost of such health complications from alcohol is substantial. As of 2020, it was estimated that the health care costs alone from the abuse of alcohol in the United States were around 27 billion dollars a year. Liver cirrhosis A common health complication from the abuse of alcohol is liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver from repeated injury. It can cause other health complications such as high blood pressure, bleeding, and infection, and can result in early death if left untreated. In 2019, there were over 24,000 alcohol-related liver cirrhosis deaths in the United States, almost double the number reported 15 years earlier.

In 2023, it was estimated that nearly 61 percent of those aged 26 to 29 years in the United States were current alcohol drinkers, the highest rate of all age groups. Those aged 26 to 29 also had the highest rates of binge alcohol use. Although the legal age to consume alcohol in the United States is 21, around 31.1 percent of those aged 18 to 20 years were already current alcohol users. Binge drinking in the United States Binge drinking is commonly defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion for men and four or more drinks for women. Binge drinking is most common among adults in their 20s, and more common among Hispanics and Whites than other races or ethnicities. The states with the highest prevalence of binge drinking are North Dakota, Montana, and Iowa, while Alabama has the lowest prevalence of binge drinking of all U.S. states. In 2022, almost 22 percent of the population of North Dakota binge drank in the past 30 days, with the overall prevalence rate in the United States around 17 percent at that time. High school alcohol use Although alcohol use among teens remains a problem, the annual prevalence of alcohol use among those in grades 8, 10, and 12 has decreased dramatically over the past two decades. In 2023, it was estimated that a combined total of 30 percent of those in grades 8, 10, and 12 had used alcohol in the past year. In comparison, the annual prevalence rate of alcohol use among these grades was just over 67 percent in the year 1991. The 30-day prevalence of alcohol use for these grades has also decreased significantly. In 1991, around 40 percent of those in grades 8, 10, and 12 used alcohol in the past month, while in 2023 this rate dropped to just 14.3 percent.

Alcohol Use reports an estimated average percent of people who consumed alcohol by type of use and by age range. For the purpose of these data, binge use of alcohol was defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion; i.e. at the same time or within a couple of hours. Dependence is defined consistent with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) definition as:Spending a lot of time engaging in activities related to substance useUsing a substance in greater quantities or for a longer time than intendedDeveloping tolerance (i.e., needing to use the substance more than before to get desired effects or noticing that the same amount of substance use had less effect than before)Making unsuccessful attempts to cut down on useContinuing substance use despite physical health or emotional problems associated with substance useReducing or eliminating participation in other activities because of substance useExperiencing withdrawal symptoms.Similarly, Abuse is also defined consistent with the DSM-IV definition as the following lifestyle symptoms due to the use of illicit drugs in the past 12 months:Experiencing problems at work, home, and schoolDoing something physically dangerousExperiencing Repeated trouble with the lawExperiencing Problems with family or friends

Alcohol consumption among the US public is at a relatively similar rate in the 21st century as it was in the nineteenth. The first drop in consumption appeared in the 1860s and 1870s, due to the American Civil War and the period of economic recovery that followed. After this, consumption rose again until the First World War, before it fell from 9.7 liters per person per year in 1915 to 7.4 in 1919. Following the war, the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution came into effect, which prohibited the importation, manufacturing and sale (but not consumption) of alcohol. From this point until Prohibition's end, there are no reliable figures regarding alcohol consumption in the US, however some sources suggest that consumption fell to thirty percent of its pre-prohibition levels in the first few years, but then grew to sixty or seventy percent by prohibition's end.

High spirits in the 70s and 80s

Total consumption then grew again in the 1930s and 40s, reaching 8.7 liters per person in 1946, before it plateaued at around 7.6 liters per person per year in the 1950s. Alcohol consumption then increased gradually to more than ten liters per person per year in the 1970s and 1980s, which was the highest rate of alcohol consumption in recorded US history. It then dropped to just over eight liters in the late 1990s, and gradually increased again to 8.9 liters per person in 2013, which is similar to figures recorded more than 160 years previously.

Beer moves a-head

The late 1800s also saw a major shift in the type of alcohol consumed. In 1850, 7.1 out of the eight liters consumed was through spirits, while beer and wine made up 0.5 and 0.3 liters respectively. However, by the turn of the twentieth century, alcohol was most commonly consumed through beer, and excluding a brief increase in spirits consumption in the 1960s, beer has been the most common source of alcohol since 1900. Alcohol from wine consumption has also gradually increased throughout US history, reaching its highest point in 2013, where the average US citizen consumed 1.6 liters of alcohol per year by drinking wine.

United States US: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data was reported at 9.800 Number in 2016. United States US: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 9.800 Number from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. United States US: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Total alcohol per capita consumption is defined as the total (sum of recorded and unrecorded alcohol) amount of alcohol consumed per person (15 years of age or older) over a calendar year, in litres of pure alcohol, adjusted for tourist consumption.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted Average;

Germany DE: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Female data was reported at 5.900 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.700 NA for 2010. Germany DE: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 5.800 NA from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2016, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.900 NA in 2016 and a record low of 5.700 NA in 2010. Germany DE: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Total alcohol per capita consumption is defined as the total (sum of recorded and unrecorded alcohol) amount of alcohol consumed per person (15 years of age or older) over a calendar year, in litres of pure alcohol, adjusted for tourist consumption.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

This publication provides estimates of apparent consumption of alcohol based on the availability of alcoholic beverages in Australia. It provides estimates of the quantity of pure alcohol available for consumption from beer, wine, spirits, Ready to Drink (pre-mixed) beverages (RTDs) and cider, plus estimates of the total volume of beer and wine available for consumption.

United States US: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Male data was reported at 15.800 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.000 NA for 2010. United States US: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 15.400 NA from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2016, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.800 NA in 2016 and a record low of 15.000 NA in 2010. United States US: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Total alcohol per capita consumption is defined as the total (sum of recorded and unrecorded alcohol) amount of alcohol consumed per person (15 years of age or older) over a calendar year, in litres of pure alcohol, adjusted for tourist consumption.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

This table contains 1410 series, with data for years 1990 - 1998 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and was last released on 2007-01-29. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (30 items: Austria; Belgium (Flemish speaking);Belgium (French speaking);Belgium ...), Sex (2 items: Males; Females ...), Age group (3 items: 11 years;13 years;15 years ...), Activity (2 items: Tasted an alcoholic beverage; Been really drunk ...), Frequency (8 items: Yes;2 to 3 times;Once;4 to 10 times ...).

Japan JP: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Male data was reported at 13.500 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 12.000 NA for 2010. Japan JP: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 12.750 NA from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2016, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.500 NA in 2016 and a record low of 12.000 NA in 2010. Japan JP: Alcohol Consumption Rate: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Total alcohol per capita consumption is defined as the total (sum of recorded and unrecorded alcohol) amount of alcohol consumed per person (15 years of age or older) over a calendar year, in litres of pure alcohol, adjusted for tourist consumption.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

Germany DE: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data was reported at 11.840 l/Person in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.220 l/Person for 2019. Germany DE: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 12.410 l/Person from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2020, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.820 l/Person in 2001 and a record low of 11.840 l/Person in 2020. Germany DE: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Total alcohol per capita consumption is defined as the total (sum of recorded and unrecorded alcohol) amount of alcohol consumed per person (15 years of age or older) over a calendar year, in litres of pure alcohol, adjusted for tourist consumption.;World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).;Weighted average;This is the Sustainable Development Goal indicator 3.5.2[https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].

The prevalence of alcohol consumption above certain specified levels (“sensible” limits) based on people’s estimates of amounts drank on a “usual” occasion recorded in terms of five different types of drink and then converted into units of alcohol: The prevalence of alcohol consumption based on results from the General Lifestyle Survey including: Proportion of men who drank more than 4 units of alcohol on at least one day the previous week and women who drank more than 3 units; Proportion of men who drank more than 8 units of alcohol on at least one day the previous week and women who drank more than 6 units. To help reduce the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption and the health risks associated with single episodes of intoxication.The damage caused by alcohol misuse to individuals and society has become an increasing focus of public concern in recent years. Drinking alcohol has been linked to increased risks of hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, liver cirrhosis and some cancers. This indicator has been discontinued and so there will be no further updates. Legacy unique identifier: P00855

New Hampshire is currently the state with the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the United States. Per capita alcohol consumption has increased since the mid-1990s, with beer as the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage. The beer market in the U.S. was estimated to amount to over *** billion dollars by 2029. Binge drinking Although New Hampshire consumes the highest amount of alcohol per capita, it reports lower rates of binge drinking than other states. The states with the highest binge drinking rates include North Dakota, Iowa, and South Dakota. Binge drinking is typically defined as the consumption of 5 or more drinks within 2 hours for men and 4 or more drinks within 2 hours for women. Binge drinking is the most common form of excessive alcohol use and is associated with serious risks. Binge drinking risks Health risks associated with binge drinking include cancer, chronic diseases such as liver disease and heart disease, alcohol dependence, and unintentional injury such as from car crashes. Although the dangers of drinking and driving are clear, it remains a problem across the United States. In 2023, around 7** percent of those aged 21 to 25 reported driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in the preceding year.

The prevalence of alcohol consumption above certain specified levels (“sensible” limits) based on people’s estimates of amounts drank on a “usual” occasion recorded in terms of five different types of drink and then converted into units of alcohol: The prevalence of alcohol consumption based on results from the Health Survey for England including: Proportion of men drinking more than 4 units and women drinking more than 3 units of alcohol in heaviest drinking day last week; Proportion of men drinking more than 8 units and women drinking more than 6 units of alcohol in heaviest drinking day last week. To help reduce the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption and the health risks associated with single episodes of intoxication.The damage caused by alcohol misuse to individuals and society has become an increasing focus of public concern in recent years. Drinking alcohol has been linked to increased risks of hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, liver cirrhosis and some cancers. Legacy unique identifier: P00859

Alcohol abuse is widely blamed for the very high rate of male mortality in Russia. I estimate a structural model of the demand for alcohol that incorporates two features of alcohol consumption, peer effects and habits. I use a kink in the policy regime of the excise tax on alcohol and regional variation in alcohol regulations to estimate a price elasticity of demand for alcohol. I find that peer influence and habits are critical determinants of the response of alcohol demand to price changes. The estimates imply that increases in alcohol prices would yield significant reductions in mortality.

Samoa WS: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data was reported at 2.500 Number in 2016. Samoa WS: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 2.500 Number from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. Samoa WS: Total Alcohol Consumption per Capita: Liters of Pure Alcohol: Projected Estimates: Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Samoa – Table WS.World Bank: Health Statistics. Total alcohol per capita consumption is defined as the total (sum of recorded and unrecorded alcohol) amount of alcohol consumed per person (15 years of age or older) over a calendar year, in litres of pure alcohol, adjusted for tourist consumption.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted Average;

Legacy unique identifier: P00859

Number and percentage of persons being heavy drinkers, by age group and sex.

In 2022, the total alcohol consumption in California was around 94 million gallons of ethanol (pure alcohol). The Health People program initiated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established a nationwide objective of no more than 2.1 gallons of alcohol per capita. This statistic shows the alcohol consumption of all beverages in the United States in 2022, by state.