Based on a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extreme alcohol use is one of the big factors that might deplete the American economy. It cost the U.S. about $249 billion, or $2.05 per drink in 2010, compared to 2006 that has only $223.5 billion or $1.90 per drink. The cause of these expensive expenses are mostly reduced office efficiency, crime, and the charge of treating people for health troubles caused by too much drinking.
Binge drinking is also known as drinking between five or more drinks on just one occasion for men and for women it is four or more drinks per one occasion. Government pays $2 of every $5 of cost with a total of over $100 billion.
A typical 88,000 deaths every year was attributed to excessive alcohol use. This includes the ratio of 1 is to 10 deaths among Americans from ages 20-64.
Excessive use of alcohol charge the states and the District of Columbia a median of $3.5 billion in the year 2010, $488 million in North Dakota and $35 billion on California. The greatest rate per person is in Washington D.C. while New Mexico had the greatest cost per drink.
Robert Brewer, M.D., M.S.P.H., head of CDC's Alcohol Program and one of the study's authors said, "The increase in the costs of excessive drinking from 2006 to 2010 is concerning, particularly given the severe economic recession that occurred during these years,"
"Effective prevention strategies can reduce excessive drinking and related costs in states and communities, but they are under used."
The estimates for 2010 cost are all based on changes if an alcohol-related problems or incident had occurred and payment is needed for that. This study doesn't comprise any other cost, for example pain and suffering due to alcohol attributable harms given that other information on alcohol are often underreported or unavailable.
