Binge Drinking Among Adults, by Select Characteristics and State - United States, 2018

What is already known about this topic? Excessive alcohol use has contributed to declines in life expectancy. Binge drinking is a common and costly pattern of excessive alcohol use. What is added by this report? During 2018, one in six U.S. adults reported binge drinking during the past 30 days. Among those who binge drank, 25% did so at least weekly, on average, and 25% consumed at least eight drinks during a binge occasion. Some sociodemographic groups and states with low binge drinking prevalence reported large quantities of alcohol consumed during binge occasions. What are the implications for public health practice? An effective population health approach including regulating alcohol sales, increasing alcohol taxes, and alcohol screening and brief counseling by clinicians can help reduce binge drinking.