Which Crime Is Often Alcohol Related?

Robbery and violent crimes – Robbery and violent crimes often involve alcohol use, and there is a positive correlation between such crimes and alcohol use.15% of robberies, 63% of intimate partner violence incidents, 37% of sexual assaults, 45-46% of physical assaults and 40-45% of homicides in the United States involved use of alcohol.

Who is most vulnerable to alcohol?

What are the risks by gender? – Narrowing gender gap in consumption. Historically, men have had higher rates of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related consequences, and AUD than women.10,13 A 2019 critical review of national studies conducted since 2008 concluded that this gender gap in heavy drinking and alcohol problems has noticeably narrowed, though trends in alcohol use vary by age group.13 For example, among adolescents and young adults, rates of alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and various alcohol-related harms have declined in both males and females, but more so for males.13 In middle and older adulthood, alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and alcohol-related harms are increasing, but at a faster rate for women than men.13 Heightened harms in women.

1. Women tend to suffer a variety of harms at lower levels of alcohol exposure than men.
2. For instance, women with AUD perform more poorly than men with AUD on a variety of cognitive tasks, even with fewer years of AUD.27 Women are at greater risk than men for alcohol-related health problems, including liver inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.28–30 A single serving of alcohol per day is associated with a 10% increase in the risk of breast cancer for women.31 Over the past few decades, rates of alcohol-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from alcohol associated liver disease and other alcohol-related causes have all increased, but at a faster rate for women than men.32–34 And women (as well as men) who drink heavily are at increased risk of being the victim of secondhand harms, such as physical aggression, by others who have been drinking.35 Increased prevalence of AUD in women of sexual minority status.

Among those with sexual minority status such as being gay or lesbian, different drinking patterns and rates of AUD emerge for men and women. Numerous studies have found that the likelihood of heavy drinking or AUD is substantially greater among women who are sexual minorities (based on sexual identity, behavior, or attraction) than among heterosexual women.36–38 However, in contrast, the likelihood of heavy drinking or AUD among gay men is similar to that in heterosexual men.36–38 Note: these studies specifically report on people of sexual minority status, but not gender minority status, such as transgender people.

What are the statistics relating to alcohol?

Alcohol consumption, 2020-21 financial year Contains key statistics and information from survey data about alcohol consumption and its prevalence within Australia

One in four Australians aged 18 years and over exceeded the Australian Adult Alcohol Guideline in 2020-21 (25.8%)Men were more likely than women to exceed the guideline (33.6% compared to 18.5%)People born in Australia were almost twice as likely as those born overseas to exceed the guideline (30.0% compared to 17.3%)

The National Health Survey 2020-21 was collected online during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a break in time series. Data should be used for point-in-time analysis only and can’t be compared to previous years. See Methodology for more information. Alcohol occupies a significant place in Australian culture and is consumed in a wide range of social circumstances.

• In general, alcohol is consumed at levels of low immediate risk.
• However, some people may drink at levels that increase their risk of developing health problems over the course of their life, as well as increasing their risk of alcohol related injury.
• The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released new Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol in December 2020.

Guideline 1 recommends that ‘To reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury, healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. The less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol’.

The NHMRC further advises that ‘healthy adults drinking within the guideline recommendation have less than a 1 in 100 chance of dying from an alcohol-related condition’. In this article, exceeding the guideline is interpreted as consuming more than 10 standard drinks in the week prior to survey, or consuming 5 or more standard drinks on any day in the last year at least monthly (12 occasions per year), or exceeding both components.

People aged 15-17 were measured against guideline 1, however the guidelines recommend that people under 18 do not drink alcohol. See Methodology for more information about the Australian Adult Alcohol Guideline. One in four people (25.8% or 5 million people) aged 18 years and over exceeded the guideline in 2020-21.

Men were more likely to exceed the guideline than women (33.6% compared to 18.5%)Women were more likely than men to not exceed the guideline (77.3% compared to 61.3%)Almost seven in ten (69.5%) people aged 18 years and over did not exceed the guideline.

One in seven (14.4%) people aged 18-24 years consumed more than 10 standard drinks in the week prior to interviewOne in four people aged 55-64 years consumed more than 10 standard drinks in the last week compared to one in five aged 75 years and over (25.0% compared to 19.3%)People aged 18-24 years were more than three times as likely as those aged 75 years and over to have consumed 5 or more standard drinks on any day in the last year at least monthly (22.0% compared to 6.5%).

People aged 18 years and over born in Australia were almost twice as likely as those born overseas to exceed the guideline (30% compared to 17.3%)Those living in Inner Regional (29.2%), and Outer Regional and Remote (30.3%) areas were more likely to exceed the guideline than those living in Major Cities (24.5%)People employed full time were twice as likely as those who were unemployed to have exceeded the guideline (32.0% compared to 16.8%)People living in areas of least disadvantage were more likely than those living in areas of most disadvantage to exceed the guideline (30.7% compared to 18.5%)Nearly two-fifths (38.1%) of those living in group households exceeded the guideline. This was higher than any other family household composition.

(a) A lower Index of Disadvantage quintile (e.g. the first quintile) indicates relatively greater disadvantage and a lack of advantage in general. A higher Index of Disadvantage (e.g. the fifth quintile) indicates a relative lack of disadvantage and greater advantage in general.

Men were twice as likely as women (26.8% compared to 13.4%) to have exceeded 10 standard drinksMore than three quarters (77.6%) of people who exceeded 10 standard drinks consumed more than 14 standard drinks in the last week.

One in six (17.2%) people aged 18 years and over consumed 5 or more standard drinks on a single day in the last year at least monthly (12 occasions per year). Men were twice as likely as women to have exceeded 5 standard drinks at least monthly (23.5% compared to 11.3%).

Two thirds (66.4%) reported their consumption had stayed about the sameNearly one in four (23.9%) reported decreased consumptionOne in ten (9.8%) reported increased consumption.

This analysis refers to the Australian Adult Alcohol Guideline which is based on guideline 1 of the Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks From Drinking Alcohol. Additional data has been provided in the Data Cubes to assess against the previous 2009 guidelines.

Correction to a footnote in table 1.Data revision to ‘Usual sugar drink consumption’, ‘Usual diet drink consumption’, and ‘Does not usually consume sugar sweetened or diet drinks’ in table 4.Data revision to ‘Daily consumption of diet drinks’, ‘Does not usually consume sugar sweetened or diet drinks’, ‘Inadequate vegetable consumption’, and ‘Zero minutes of physical activity excluding workplace’ in table 5.21/07/2022 – This release contains:Data revision to ‘Did not meet 2014 physical activity guidelines’, ‘Zero minutes of physical activity’, ‘Did not meet 2014 physical activity guidelines excluding workplace activity’, ‘Migrant status’, and ‘Family composition of household’ in table 5.

See National Health Survey 2020-21 for more information. : Alcohol consumption, 2020-21 financial year

What are three reasons people drink alcohol?

Abstract – Two motives for alcohol consumption have been emphasized in the etiological and the reasons-for-drinking literature: (a) people drink alcohol to cope with stress, and (b) people drink alcohol because of social influences. There is support for both of these hypotheses, but the results are usually modest and most authors agree that more complex theories of alcohol consumption are needed.

This study examined the interactional effects of reasons for drinking alcohol and situational factors on alcohol consumption. Standardized telephone interviews were conducted with 781 randomly selected Michigan drinkers. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that gender, friends’ alcohol consumption, coping, and social motives for drinking were significant predictors of study participants’ alcohol consumption.

As predicted, there was a significant interaction between drinking to cope with stress and perceived stress, and there was also a significant interaction between drinking for social reasons and friends’ alcohol consumption. Similarities and differences in the results for women, men, Blacks, and Whites are described.

Individuals’ expressed reasons for drinking alcohol Since the 1950’s, researchers have examined people’s self-reported reasons for drinking alcohol ( Cahalan, Cisin, & Crossley, 1969 ; Cooper, Russell, & George, 1988 ; Farber, Khavari, & Douglass, 1980 ; Johnson, Schwitters, Wilson, Nagoshi, & McClearn, 1985 ; Novacek, Raskin, & Hogan, 1991 ; Straus & Bacon, 1953 ).

People do not have complete understanding of the nexus of physiological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that influence their behavior ( Nisbett & Wilson, 1977 ). Nonetheless, self-reports of motives for drinking alcohol provide insight into people’s psychological state and have empirically been related to consumption levels ( Cahalan et al., 1969 ; Cooper et al., 1988 ; Farber et al., 1980 ).

1. Most authors have focused on general samples of the adult population or college students, rather than alcoholics or identified problem drinkers.
2. The majority of these studies have focused on the factor structure of individuals’ motives for drinking, as well as determining if some types of motives are more strongly related than others to heavy alcohol consumption.

A number of different motives for drinking alcohol have been examined, including drinking to enhance sociability, to increase power, to escape problems, to get drunk, for enjoyment, or for ritualistic reasons. Despite this diversity, most research has focused on two broad categories of motivation.

The first category revolves around drinking for negative reinforcement, or what Mulford and Miller (1960) called “personal-effect motives.” This motive has been labeled drinking to cope, and is usually defined as the tendency to use alcohol to escape, avoid, or regulate unpleasant emotions. The second category revolves around drinking for positive reinforcement, or what Mulford and Miller (1960) called “social-effect motives.” This drinking motive has been labeled “drinking to be sociable” and encompasses drinking to be convivial, to celebrate social occasions, and to have a good time with others.

Cahalan et al. (1969) found that social reasons were more commonly given for drinking alcohol, but that heavy drinkers chose more coping reasons than did infrequent drinkers. Many researchers have found that drinking alcohol to cope with problems is more likely to lead to abusive drinking than is social drinking ( Cahalan et al., 1969 ; Cooper et al., 1988 ; Farber et al., 1980 ; Johnson et al., 1985 ).

There is also evidence, however, that social motives for consuming alcohol can lead to heavy drinking ( Brennan, Walfish, & AuBuchon, 1986 ; Ratliff & Burkhart, 1984 ). For example, Brennan et al. (1986), in their review of the longitudinal literature on college student drinkers, found that heavy drinkers who drank for social reasons were more prone to later problem drinking than heavy drinkers who drank to cope with personal problems.

Thus, there is evidence that both social and coping motives for consuming alcohol can lead to heavy drinking.1

Why do guys like to drink so much?

Biological Reasons for Why Men Drink So Much – In a 2010 study examining gender differences in alcohol consumption, researchers found that drinking and high-volume alcohol consumption was more prevalent in men than women. What the study didn’t dive into was the reasons why men seem to drink more than women do.

Men tend to have lower body fat ratios than women. Since alcohol is stored in body fat, men need to drink more in order to feel the substance’s effects. Men’s bodies produce more of the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme. This enzyme breaks down alcohol before it reaches the bloodstream, so men need to drink more in order to feel the effects.

For better or worse, men’s bodies are able to handle higher doses of alcohol. This may not explain why your husband, father or son started drinking so much in the first place, but it does provide some insight into why he drinks so heavily on a regular basis.

Which European country drinks the most?

LATVIA – The European country with the highest alcohol consumption rate – at 12.1 litres per adult, 3.3 litres more than the European average – is Latvia. Between 2010 and 2020, the newly crowned drinking capital of Europe also had the largest increase in drinking levels, at 19%.

According to the WHO, over half of Latvian alcohol users above the age of 15, and more than two-thirds of drinkers between the ages of 15 and 19 engage in bingedrinking. The nation’s approach to alcohol tax is often blamed; the Latvian government is concerned about alcohol taxes interfering with cross-border trade.

In 2019, for example, its neighbour Estonia reduced alcohol tax by 25% and, in response, Latvia decided to cut its previously planned tax increase from 39% to 5% in order to stay competitive.

Which European country has the most alcoholics?

Europeans drink a lot, but how often? – Data shows that as people get older, their daily intake of alcohol also increases. People aged between 15 and 24 are the smallest group in the daily drinker statistics (representing only 1 per cent), while those 75 or older are more likely to have a drink every day (16 per cent).

However, the senior group also has the biggest share of people who do not consume alcohol at all or have not consumed it in the past 12 months (40.3 per cent). In the EU, drinking every day is most frequent in Portugal, with a fifth (20.7 per cent) of the population consuming alcohol daily, followed by Spain (13.0 per cent) and Italy (12.1 per cent).

The lowest share of daily drinkers is around 1 per cent in Latvia and Lithuania. The EU country with the biggest share of its population drinking alcohol on a weekly basis is the Netherlands (47.3 per cent), Luxembourg (43.1 per cent), and Belgium (40.8 per cent).

1. Croatia has the highest share of the population (38.3 per cent) saying it never consumed alcohol or has not consumed any in the last 12 months.
2. Across all European countries, there are clearly many more women than men staying away from alcohol.
3. Women are the most sober in Italy, where 46.7 per cent say they never consume alcohol or have not consumed any in the last 12 months (compared to 21.5 per cent of men).

In Cyprus, that figure stands at 44.2 per cent of women vs.12.8 per cent of men, and in Bulgaria at 42.0 per cent of women vs.16.2 per cent of men.

Which nationality drinks the most?

Alcohol has played a significant role in the leisure time of many in today’s society, and its usage dates back centuries. For many, it plays a crucial part in their social engagement, allowing individuals to bond more easily. Alcohol consumption, however, holds many risks regarding health, both physical and mental, and can also play a part in society’s ills, such as crime.

• In various countries across the world, alcohol has a different meaning and placement in society; basically, it is more common for people to drink regularly in some countries than in others.
• Looking at the a mount of alcohol consumed per person aged 15 years or older, the Seychelles is in first place with around 20.5 litres of alcohol drunk per person per year, according to Our World in Data ; studies show that young male peer groups primarily drink high amounts of alcohol in the Seychelles.

Second place on the rankings list is Uganda with about 15 litres per year, followed by the Czech Republic with 14.45 litres, and Lithuania with 13.22 litres per year. To account for the differences in alcohol content of various drinks (e.g. wine or beer), the values are reported in litres of pure alcohol per year,

What age group drinks the most alcohol?

Who binge drinks? 1 –

• Binge drinking is most common among younger adults aged 18–34.
• Binge drinking is more common among men than among women.
• Binge drinking is most common among adults who have higher household incomes ($75,000 or more), are non-Hispanic White, or live in the Midwest.
• For some groups and states, binge drinking is not as common, but those who binge drink do so frequently or consume large quantities of alcohol.

• One in four US adults who binge drink consume at least eight drinks during a binge occasion.1
• Overall, 17 billion total binge drinks are consumed by adults annually, or 467 binge drinks per adult who binge drinks.4
• Four out of five binge drinks are consumed by men.4
• More than half of binge drinks are consumed by adults 35 and older.4
• People with lower incomes and lower levels of education consume more binge drinks per year.4
• Most people younger than 21 who drink alcohol report binge drinking, often consuming large amounts. Among high school students who binge drink, 44% consumed eight or more drinks in a row.5,6

Binge drinking is associated with many health problems, 7–9 including:

• Unintentional injuries such as, falls, burns, and,
• Violence including homicide, suicide, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.
• Sexually transmitted diseases.
• Unintended pregnancy and poor pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage and stillbirth.
• Sudden infant death syndrome.
• Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease.
• of the breast (among females), liver, colon, rectum, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus.
• Memory and learning problems.

Read more about the CDC study that found that excessive drinking in the U.S is a drain on the American economy.

Excessive drinking, including binge drinking, cost the United States $249 billion in 2010, or $2.05 per drink. These costs were from lost work productivity, health care expenditures, criminal justice costs, and other expenses. Binge drinking accounted for 77% of these costs, or $191 billion.2

The recommends evidence-based interventions to binge drinking and related harms. Recommended strategies include:

• Using pricing strategies, including increasing alcohol taxes.
• Limiting the number of retail alcohol outlets in a given area.
• Holding alcohol retailers responsible for the harms caused by illegal alcohol sales to minors or intoxicated patrons (dram shop liability).
• Restricting access to alcohol by maintaining limits on the days and hours of alcohol retail sales.
• Consistently enforcing laws against underage drinking and alcohol-impaired driving.
• Maintaining government controls on alcohol sales (avoiding privatization).

The also recommends screening and counseling for alcohol misuse in primary care settings.

1. Bohm MK, Liu Y, Esser MB, Mesnick JB, Lu H, Pan Y, Greenlund KJ., MMWR 2021;70:41.
2. Sacks JJ, Gonzales KR, Bouchery EE, Tomedi LE, Brewer RD., Am J Prev Med 2015;49:e73–e79.
3. Esser MB, Hedden SL, Kanny D, Brewer RD, Gfroerer JC, Naimi TS., Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140329.
4. Kanny D, Naimi TS, Liu Y, Lu H, Brewer RD., Am J Prev Med 2018;54:486–496.
5. Jones CM, Clayton HB, Deputy NP, et al., MMWR Suppl 2020;69(Suppl-1):38–46.
6. Esser MB, Clayton H, Demissie Z, Kanny D, Brewer RD. MMWR 2017;66:474-476.
7. World Health Organization., Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2018.
8. Naimi TS, Lipscomb LE, Brewer RD, Colley BG., Pediatrics 2003;11:1136–1141.
9. Iyasu S, Randall LL, Welty TK, et al.,2002;288:2717–2723.

: Binge Drinking

Why do I drink everyday?

Drinking every night – a sign of problem drinking or alcoholism? – Here are some of the common signs of alcoholism to think about:

Experiencing more and more negative consequences as a result of your drinking, such upsetting the family, or feeling increasingly guilty or ashamed Drinking to the point where you ‘black out’ and can’t remember the night before, including conversations or behaviours. You may try to find out what happened by dropping hints, or only remember when someone reminds you Feeling embarrassed about the amount that you drink Needing a drink before you go out in case there isn’t enough. You may have also noticed that other people don’t drink in the same way as you Lying to others or hiding your drinking from others Drinking more than you intended on doing in the evening Finding that you are drinking to relieve stress or to relax Prioritising your drinking above your responsibilities, like family, work and hobbies Wanting to cut down or stop drinking every night but being unable to

If you feel that you need a drink every night or to get through a social event, stressful situation or personal struggle, and you have a compulsion to drink or, maybe even daily, this could be a sign of psychological dependency. This is just as serious as physical addiction, and is something to address.

Regular heavy drinking can lead to you building up a tolerance to alcohol, where you need to drink more and more to feel its effects. In an evening, you may feel that you are not getting drunk despite drinking quite a lot of alcohol – this can be a sign that you may have an alcohol problem. Over time, if you have found that you need to drink to stave off withdrawal symptoms, like shakes, sweating or tremors, this is a sign of physical addiction too.

It’s important to recognise that it is dangerous to suddenly stop drinking without first consulting your GP.

Why do people drink for fun?

9. For Fun – People generally tend to drink alcohol in order to have fun. Being drunk makes them feel happy and “spirited,” and drinking alcohol with friends can be a fun experience. If people are nervous in social situations, drinking helps them relax and have more fun.

What are 3 consequences of drinking?

Long-Term Health Risks – Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.6,16
• of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.6,17
• Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.6,16
• Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.6,18
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.6,19
• Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.6,20,21
• Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.5

By not drinking too much, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention., Accessed April 19, 2022.
2. Esser MB, Leung G, Sherk A, Bohm MB, Liu Y, Lu H, Naimi TS., JAMA Netw Open 2022;5:e2239485.
3. Sacks JJ, Gonzales KR, Bouchery EE, Tomedi LE, Brewer RD., Am J Prev Med 2015; 49(5):e73–e79.
4. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.9th Edition, Washington, DC; 2020.
5. Esser MB, Hedden SL, Kanny D, Brewer RD, Gfroerer JC, Naimi TS., Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140329.
6. World Health Organization., Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2018.
7. Alpert HR, Slater ME, Yoon YH, Chen CM, Winstanley N, Esser MB., Am J Prev Med 2022;63:286–300.
8. Greenfield LA., Report prepared for the Assistant Attorney General’s National Symposium on Alcohol Abuse and Crime. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 1998.
9. Mohler-Kuo M, Dowdall GW, Koss M, Wechsler H., Journal of Studies on Alcohol 2004;65(1):37–45.
10. Abbey A., J Stud Alcohol Suppl 2002;14:118–128.
11. Kanny D, Brewer RD, Mesnick JB, Paulozzi LJ, Naimi TS, Lu H., MMWR 2015;63:1238-1242.
12. Naimi TS, Lipscomb LE, Brewer RD, Colley BG., Pediatrics 2003;11(5):1136–1141.
13. Wechsler H, Davenport A, Dowdall G, Moeykens B, Castillo S., JAMA 1994;272(21):1672–1677.
14. Kesmodel U, Wisborg K, Olsen SF, Henriksen TB, Sechler NJ., Alcohol & Alcoholism 2002;37(1):87–92.
15. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Substance Abuse and Committee on Children with Disabilities.2000., Pediatrics 2000;106:358–361.
16. Rehm J, Baliunas D, Borges GL, Graham K, Irving H, Kehoe T, et al., Addiction.2010;105(5):817-43.
17. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Personal Habits and Indoor Combustions: A Review of Human Carcinogens, Volume 100E 2012. Available from:,
18. Miller JW, Naimi TS, Brewer RD, Jones SE., Pediatrics.2007;119(1):76-85.
19. Castaneda R, Sussman N, Westreich L, Levy R, O’Malley M., J Clin Psychiatry 1996;57(5):207–212.
20. Booth BM, Feng W., J Behavioral Health Services and Research 2002;29(2):157–166.
21. Leonard KE, Rothbard JC., J Stud Alcohol Suppl 1999;13:139–146.

You might be interested:  How Much Yeast Is In Beer?

: Alcohol Use and Your Health

What are risky drinking Behaviours?

Advise about Risky Alcohol Use Most adults who drink at risky levels and were asked about their alcohol use during a checkup did not receive advice to drink less from their providers, according to a CDC study. Most adults who drink at risky levels and were asked about their alcohol use during checkups were not advised to drink less, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study.

The study looked at alcohol screening and brief counseling practices among healthcare providers in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Alcohol screening and brief counseling is an approach based on the best available scientific evidence that can help adults who drink alcohol at risky levels to reduce the amount that they drink.

In the United States, risky alcohol use resulted in more than $249 billion in economic costs in 2010 and over 88,000 deaths every year from 2006-2010. Risky alcohol use includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any use by pregnant women or those under age 21.

1. Binge drinking is drinking five or more drinks on a single occasion for men or four or more drinks on a single occasion for women.
2. Heavy drinking (also considered high weekly or daily consumption) is drinking 15 or more drinks per week for men or eight or more drinks per week for women.
3. Risky alcohol use increases the risk for developing long-standing diseases (such as and ), as well as injuries and violence (such as,, and homicide).

Any alcohol use by pregnant women increases the risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of lifelong disorders in their babies known as (FASDs).

What makes a person alcoholic?

Press Release – Embargoed until: Thursday, November 20, 2014, Noon ET Contact: pdf icon 9 out of 10 excessive drinkers are not alcohol dependent 89.8%: Excessive Drinkers Who are Not Dependent 10.2%: Excessive Drinkers Who are Dependent Entire Infographic pdf icon Nine in 10 adults who drink too much alcohol are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The study appears today in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease, Excessive drinking includes binge drinking (four or more drinks on an occasion for women, five or more drinks on an occasion for men); consuming eight or more drinks a week for women or 15 or more drinks a week for men; or any alcohol use by pregnant women or those under the minimum legal drinking age of 21.

Alcohol dependence is a chronic medical condition that typically includes a current or past history of excessive drinking, a strong craving for alcohol, continued use despite repeated problems with drinking, and an inability to control alcohol consumption.

“This study shows that, contrary to popular opinion, most people who drink too much are not alcohol dependent or alcoholics,” said Robert Brewer, M.D., M.S.P.H., Alcohol Program Lead at CDC and one of the report’s authors. “It also emphasizes the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to reducing excessive drinking that includes evidence-based community strategies, screening and counseling in healthcare settings, and high-quality substance abuse treatment for those who need it.” The study found that nearly 1 in 3 adults is an excessive drinker, and most of them binge drink, usually on multiple occasions.

In contrast, about 1 in 30 adults is classified as alcohol dependent. The rates of alcohol dependence increase with the amount of alcohol consumed. About 10 percent of binge drinkers are alcohol dependent, while 30 percent of people who binge frequently (10 or more times a month) are alcohol dependent.

• Excessive alcohol use is responsible for 88,000 deaths in the U.S.
• Each year (including about 3,700 deaths from alcohol dependence), and cost the U.S.
• 223.5 billion in 2006.
• These deaths were due to health effects from drinking too much over time, such as breast cancer, liver disease, and heart disease; and health effects from drinking too much in a short period of time, such as violence, alcohol poisoning, and motor vehicle crashes.

Excessive drinkers who are dependent often need specialized or more intensive treatment to change their behavior. People who drink too much, but are not dependent, can still be encouraged to drink less through state and local interventions that increase the price and limit the availability of alcohol.

In addition those who are not dependent may be candidates for other clinical interventions, including screening and counseling offered by doctors and other health professionals. CDC and SAMHSA scientists analyzed data on 138,100 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older from all 50 states and D.C. who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2009, 2010, or 2011.

The survey includes a wide range of questions on substance use, including current drinking, binge drinking, average alcohol consumption, and symptoms of alcohol dependence. The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends several evidence-based strategies to reduce excessive drinking, including increasing alcohol taxes, regulating alcohol outlet density, and holding alcohol retailers liable for harms resulting from illegal sales to minors or intoxicated patrons.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening and counseling for excessive drinking for all adult patients. This service is covered by most insurance plans, and can also be delivered by computer or telephone. For more information about excessive drinking, including binge drinking, and how to prevent this dangerous behavior, visit the CDC’s Alcohol and Public Health website at http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/index.htm.

Members of the public who are concerned about their own or someone else’s drinking can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at1-800-662-HELP to receive assistance from the Treatment Referral Routing Service. ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES external icon

Why do people drink more alcohol?

Stress Reduction – Some people use alcohol to cope with stress. One model proposes that negative emotions (e.g., anxiety or depression), the expectation that alcohol will relieve these feelings, and coping styles characterized by avoiding rather than confronting life issues all may increase a person’s motivation to drink in order to cope with stress.

• Consistent with this model, these characteristics show the strongest correlation between stress and drinking.
• The evidence that some people use alcohol to reduce stress, however, is complex and inconsistent for a number of reasons, not least of which is that there are multiple determinants of alcohol use.

Furthermore, the effect of protective factors that reduce the impact of stress on drinking (e.g., social support systems) complicates the evidence for the relationship. Finally, problems such as a time lag between the occurrence of a stressful event and resulting alcohol use also may result in inconsistent findings.

What are the 7 factors that can influence the effect alcohol has on a person?

What happens when you drink an alcoholic beverage? Although alcohol affects different people in different ways, in general, it is quickly absorbed from your digestive system into your blood. The amount of alcohol in your blood reaches its maximum within 30 to 45 minutes, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

• Alcohol is metabolized — that is, broken down chemically so it can be eliminated from your body — more slowly than it is absorbed.
• You can become more intoxicated as you drink more alcohol than is eliminated, which will result in an increase in your blood alcohol level.
• A standard drink is considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits — all of these contain the same amount (approximately 15 grams or 1/2 ounce) of alcohol.

Genetics, body weight, gender, age, what type of beverage, food in your stomach, medications in your system, and your state of health, influence how people respond to alcohol.

Gaspar Aparicio