2025 Alcohol Statistics: Key Facts, Risks & U.S. Trends

Researched 27 sources from 18 unique websites. Updated: 2025-11-20.

Alcohol is part of the daily routine for many Americans despite the risks. While many people enjoy social drinking, it remains one of the most dangerous and significant risk factors for our overall health and safety.

Most people are aware of the risks of alcohol abuse. However, there hasn’t been much progress toward finding a solution, and the rate of people suffering from alcoholism continues to increase. 

Michael & Associates has gathered the most recent alcohol misuse statistics you need to be aware of in 2025.

Key Findings

• About 140,000 Americans die from alcohol-related causes annually.
• About 3 million people die from alcohol-related causes annually.
• 28.3 million Americans aged 12 and older had alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Someone with an average income drinks about 6.2 liters of alcohol a year.
• Alcohol use accounts for 4% of all cancer deaths in the U.S.
• Wyoming has the highest alcohol-induced death rate in the U.S.

General Statistics

Worldwide, the hazardous use of alcohol is responsible for at least 3 million deaths annually. This translates to 5.3% of all fatalities.

• Men account for 7.7% of alcohol-related deaths globally, while the rate for women is 5.1% lower and accounts for 2.6% of deaths.
• Alcohol is a major factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions by contributing to 5.1% of illnesses.
• An ordinary person drinks about 6.2 liters of alcohol a year.
• People between the ages of 20 and 39 account for 13.5% of all alcohol-related deaths.
• 1.34 billion people were estimated to have consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol in 2020.

Health Effects

Consuming too much alcohol once in a while usually has few long-term consequences on your health. However, if you binge drink on a regular basis, it can affect your entire body, leading to numerous long-term as well as short-term health problems and even death.

• Alcohol has an impact on short-term health risks such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.
• Heavy drinkers are more likely to commit violent offenses, including homicide, sexual assault, and family violence.
• Alcohol poisoning happens when there is too much alcohol in your blood, causing sections of your brain to shut down. If it isn’t treated quickly, it could cause death or serious brain damage.
• Sixteen percent of the population is impacted by alcohol-related hypertension or high blood pressure. By drinking more than two drinks regularly, you might be at high risk of developing hypertension. 
• Regular alcohol consumption may also cause the liver to swell and become inflamed. Eight to ten percent of Americans binge drink, and as a result, 10 to 15% develop liver disease linked to alcohol consumption (ARLD). As a consequence, 43.5% of liver disease deaths in the U.S. were caused by alcohol.
• Alcohol use accounts for 6% of all cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths in the U.S.
• Alcohol has been linked with cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, liver, and breast. So, the more alcohol you drink, the higher the risk of getting cancer.

Alcohol Abuse and Depression

An estimated 21 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. Often, these episodes are connected to alcohol abuse.

Studies show that nearly two-thirds of people with major depression also have an alcohol problem. As a depressant, alcohol can make you get the blues, drink more, harm your brain, and get into a vicious cycle of depression. But what is the connection between alcohol and depression? Findings show that about 75 percent of people who died by suicide had one or more drugs in their bodies; many had taken both drugs and alcohol

This connection seems to work in both ways. People either drink too much, including binge drinking, leading themselves into depression, or they drink to relieve anxiety or depression. Either way, alcohol affects the brain’s chemistry, increasing the risk of depression. Hangovers also play a role in this connection, as they often create an endless cycle of waking up feeling anxious, ill, and guilty.

Gender can also influence how people suffering from alcohol use disorder cope with their condition. Research finds that female alcohol dependence is increased and often begun by mental health struggles like loneliness and rejection.

Alcohol and Health Risks

Drinking two drinks regularly can ultimately be deadly. Statistics show:

• Heart disease and stroke account for 17.3% alcohol-attributable deaths.
• Liver, gallbladder, and pancreas damage accounts for 7.7% alcohol-attributable deaths.
• Other chronic diseases account  for 0.52% alcohol-attributable deaths.
• Suicide accounts for 7.8%  alcohol-attributable deaths.
• Alcohol poisoning accounts for 14.24% alcohol-attributable deaths.
• Other acute causes account for 10.3% alcohol-attributable deaths.

Which States Experience Most Alcohol-Abuse Deaths?

California, Texas, and Florida accounted for the most deaths due to alcohol impairment in 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The District of Columbia, Rhode Island, and Hawaii had the lowest number of deaths. This makes sense because these have the largest and smallest populations.

When calculated per capita, however, the state rankings change dramatically. South Dakota, New Mexico, and Wyoming have the highest per-capita death rates, while Hawaii, New Jersey, and Maryland have the lowest per-capita rates.

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022

Age and Gender

When examining the impact by age, we can see that older age groups have a higher risk of health risks associated with alcohol. 

Health Impact

As for diseases, men tend to have higher health risks, with the exception of hypertension. Here are some of the most common alcohol-induced health concerns.

Trending Questions about Alcohol Abuse in the U.S.

Here are some trending questions involving alcohol abuse on social media sites, including Facebook, Reddit, and TikTok.

Am I a functional alcoholic if I have a good job and still drink every night?

Possibly. “Functional alcoholism” isn’t a medical term, but drinking daily, needing alcohol to unwind, or being unable to cut back despite consequences are red flags for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) even if your job or relationships seem intact.

How long does alcohol withdrawal really last, and what are the scary symptoms?

Mild withdrawal can last 2–4 days, while more severe cases can last up to a week. Symptoms may include anxiety, shaking, sweating, nausea, insomnia, rapid heart rate, and, in severe cases, seizures or delirium tremens (DTs), which require immediate medical care.

Can I binge drink on weekends and still call myself sober?

No. Sobriety generally means abstaining from alcohol, and binge-drinking—even only on weekends—still qualifies as risky alcohol use and can meet criteria for AUD.

My doctor asked about my alcohol use — do I tell the truth or lie?

Tell the truth. Doctors ask to detect health risks, medication interactions, liver issues, and AUD symptoms. They are not there to judge you, and accurate information helps them keep you safe.

What does it mean when someone says they have an Alcohol Use Disorder vs just ‘alcoholic’?

“Alcoholic” is a non-clinical label, while Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical diagnosis based on symptoms such as cravings, loss of control, dependence, and continued drinking despite harm. AUD ranges from mild to severe.

Can my brain/liver recover if I drank heavily for years?

Yes, but recovery varies. The liver can regenerate significantly once drinking stops, and many brain functions improve over months of sobriety. Severe long-term damage may not fully reverse, but stopping alcohol can dramatically improve overall health.

I’ve never blacked out — does that mean I don’t have a drinking problem?

Not necessarily. Blackouts are one sign of heavy drinking, but you can still have AUD even without them. Frequency, quantity, cravings, and the impact on your life are more reliable indicators.

Is there a safe level of drinking after I’ve messed up a few times?

There’s no universally safe level, especially if you’ve already had problems. Some people can reduce intake safely, but others find any drinking triggers relapse. Personal history and risk factors matter more than guidelines.

Is it OK to moderate/cut back instead of quitting completely?

For some, yes—moderation can work if you can reliably stick to limits. But if you repeatedly fail to control your drinking or experience significant harm, abstinence is usually safer and more effective.

Can you get treatment for alcohol abuse even if you’ve never been arrested or hospitalized?

Absolutely. Most people who seek help for AUD have never been in legal trouble. Therapy, support groups, outpatient programs, and medication-assisted treatment are available without needing a crisis first.

How do I tell if my drinking is socially acceptable or secretly destructive?

It may be destructive if you hide how much you drink, rely on alcohol to cope, regret your decisions, break personal limits, or feel anxious about cutting back. Social drinking becomes harmful when it affects your mood, health, relationships, or functioning.

UK Statistics

More than half a million Brits (602,391) show signs of alcohol addiction, but only 18% of them receive treatment. Moreover, around 14 deaths per 100,000 people are caused by alcohol, with the latest data showing 8,974 alcohol-specific deaths (an 18.6% increase from the previous year).

While there are many ways alcohol can take one’s life, alcoholic liver disease is the most common cause of alcohol-related deaths in Great Britain, accounting for more than 75% of deaths attributed to alcohol consumption. 

Who Is Most at Risk in Great Britain?

Alcohol misuse is extremely dangerous and may cause irreparable harm to any age; still, 50-59 year-old Brits are more at risk from dying or having disabilities from alcohol, accounting for one-third of all deaths.

Rates of male alcohol-specific deaths are twice those of females.

The alcohol-specific death rate for males (19 deaths per 100,000 males) is around twice the rate for females (9.2 deaths per 100,000 females). This makes sense since 30% of British men drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week, with women drinking half as much (15 units per week).

Alcohol spending is increasing. Is that stopping the Brits?

The latest data show that on average, Brits spend £386 on alcohol every year. But is that stopping the Brits from consuming alcohol? Yes, and no. While the UK doesn’t rank in the Top 10 countries that consume the most alcohol, it still stands above average. On average, Brits consume 11.45 liters of alcohol per year, while the average is 5.82.

Alcohol Abuse and COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic many people were confined to their homes. This had a significant impact on their mental health. As a result, 15% of Americans increased their alcohol consumption during the pandemic. Further, the sales of alcohol increased by 2.5%. The number of deaths attributed to alcohol increased to 99,107 in 2019 to 2020.

Alcohol Abuse Recovery

Alcohol abuse recovery can be a long and bumpy road: 30% of people who attempt to stop drinking relapse during their first year. Furthermore, 70% of people relapse at some point in their lives.

In a study by the Recovery Village, it was found that 72% of those addicted to alcohol have attempted to stop drinking and detox at home, while 28% visited rehab centers or hospitals. However, the risk for relapse has increased from 40% to 70%, which shows a step back in the recovery process.

Recovery is a long process and cannot be rushed, but that does not mean that it is impossible. There are currently 40.3 million people fighting a substance abuse disorder, of which 28.3 million also battle an alcohol disorder.

Expert Tips on How to Prevent Alcohol Abuse

While alcohol has a huge impact on our health, it also has an impact on the economic costs. So we are not only harming our health but also spending thousands of dollars on alcohol. Although alcohol cannot be completely eradicated from our culture, there are some measures we can take to try and cut down on its use. This is what experts suggest.

Avoid your usual drinking triggers

“You’re best off avoiding people, places, and things that can remind you of drinking. If you’re struggling with going booze-free for the month, perhaps have your loved ones put away the alcohol ahead of time and try not to drink around you. You can also participate in an event with someone else who agrees not to drink so you don’t feel alone” (The Beet)

Stacy Cohen, MD

Psychiatrist, Founder of The Moment

Make a Plan

“Start easy. Instead of aiming for complete abstinence, for instance, aim to drink fewer than seven days a week. Try sober Mondays or sober Mondays through Wednesdays.” (Forbes Health)

Fulton T. Crews, Ph.D.

Director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the

University of North Carolina

Exercise

“For those who have access to and enjoy outdoor activities and other physical activity options, we know that physical activity, particularly in nature, can be very helpful in reducing anxiety and coping with other negative moods.” (Forbes Health)

Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D.

Psychology Professor at the University of New Mexico.

Sources

• WHO
• Samhsa
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Our World in Data
• WebMD
• American Cancer Society
• NIAAA
• The Recovery Village 
• The Guardian
• Kaiser Family Foundation
• Forbes Health
• The Beet
• Royal College of Psychiatrists
• National Library of Medicine
• Reddit
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Google Trends

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