Alcohol Use in 2025: Drinking & Mental Health Statistics
Alcohol Use (2025) — Quick Reference Stats and Sources
| Key Statistic (U.S.) | Source |
|---|---|
| 62.0% of people ages 12+ (≈178.7M) drank alcohol in the past year (2024 NSDUH). | NIAAA (NSDUH 2024) |
| Adults 18+: past-year drinking 66.5% (men 67.6%, women 65.4%). | NIAAA |
| Youth 12–17: past-year drinking 16.4% (≈4.2M teens). | NIAAA |
| Past-month drinking (12+): 46.6% (≈134.3M people). | NIAAA |
| 21.7% of adults 18+ binge drank in the past month (men 24.9%, women 18.7%). | NIAAA (NSDUH 2024) |
| Heavy alcohol use (12+ past month): 5.0% (adults 18+ 5.5%). | NIAAA |
| Underage (12–20) past-year drinking: 27.0% (≈10.4M). | NIAAA — Underage Drinking |
| Underage (12–20) past-month drinking: 13.3%; binge drinking: 7.6%. | NIAAA — Underage Drinking |
| Excessive alcohol use contributes to about 178,000 deaths each year. | CDC Alcohol & Public Health |
| Alcohol-induced deaths (excl. injuries), 2023: 47,938. | CDC NCHS FastStats (2023) |
| Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, 2023: 12,429 (≈30% of all traffic deaths). | NHTSA 2023 |
| Lifetime drinking among adults 18+: 85% (men 87%, women 83%). | NIAAA |
| Gallup 2025: 54% of U.S. adults say they currently drink (record low in the trend). | Gallup 2025 |
Key Takeaways (2025)
Alcohol is widely used: about 62% of Americans ages 12+ drank in the past year; among adults 18+, it’s 66.5%.
Binge drinking is common: 21.7% of adults binge-drank in the last month; men 24.9%, women 18.7%.
Underage drinking persists: 27% of ages 12–20 drank in the past year; 13.3% drank in the last month.
Harms remain high: Excessive alcohol use contributes to ~178,000 deaths per year in the U.S. and causes 30% of traffic fatalities.
Behavior is shifting: only 54% of adults now say they drink at all, the lowest Gallup has recorded in decades.
Alcohol use spans all age groups—most adults drink, over 20% binge, and more than a quarter of teens report recent use.
Alcohol Consumption in America: How Common Is It?
Alcohol continues to be the most widely used substance in the U.S. Surveys show that 62% of people ages 12+ drank in the past year—about 179 million Americans. Lifetime alcohol use is even higher: 85% of adults have consumed alcohol at some point.
Drinking patterns shift with age. Young adults (18–25) are the most likely to drink heavily, while middle-aged adults (35–54) often show the highest rates of binge drinking. Older adults (65+) typically drink less frequently but may face greater health risks because alcohol interacts with chronic conditions and medications.
More than six in ten Americans consume alcohol, highlighting its place as the most commonly used drug in the U.S.
Binge Drinking and Heavy Alcohol Use
Binge drinking—defined as 4+ drinks for women or 5+ for men in a single occasion—remains widespread. In 2025, about 21.7% of adults reported binge drinking in the past month. Among those who drink at all, nearly 45% report binge episodes.
Men binge more than women: 1 in 4 adult men vs 1 in 5 women.
College-age adults are the heaviest binge drinkers, often due to social norms on campuses.
Middle-aged adults show surprising spikes, reflecting stress-related drinking.
Heavy alcohol use (defined as binge drinking on 5+ days in the past month) affects ~5% of people ages 12+, equating to millions of Americans.
About one in five adults reports binge drinking, a pattern that significantly increases health and safety risks.
Underage Drinking: Still a Public Health Concern
Even though rates have declined, underage drinking remains an issue. About 27% of teens (12–20) drank in the past year, and 13.3% reported drinking in the past month. Around 7.6% of youth binge drink, raising risks for accidents, brain development issues, and long-term addiction.
Research shows that starting drinking earlier dramatically increases the likelihood of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Parents and schools play a crucial role in prevention by modeling responsible behavior and setting clear boundaries.
Underage drinking remains a public health concern—over a quarter of teens report alcohol use, with many binge drinking and facing serious risks to brain health, safety, and long-term well-being.
Alcohol-Related Health Risks and Deaths
Excessive drinking is linked to ~178,000 deaths per year in the U.S., making alcohol one of the leading preventable causes of death. These include:
Liver disease: cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis
Cancers: breast, colon, liver, and others
Cardiovascular problems: high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease
Accidents and injuries: falls, drownings, workplace incidents
In 2023, there were 47,938 alcohol-induced deaths (directly recorded on death certificates), a steady increase compared to a decade ago.
Excessive alcohol use contributes to an estimated 178,000 deaths annually in the United States, making it one of the leading preventable causes of death.
Alcohol and Driving Safety
Alcohol remains a leading factor in U.S. road deaths. In 2023, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes, about 30% of all traffic fatalities. Despite decades of public awareness campaigns, drunk driving continues to take thousands of lives each year.
States with stronger DUI enforcement, ride-sharing adoption, and alcohol policy restrictions show lower fatality rates, but no region is unaffected.
Alcohol remains a leading cause of U.S. road deaths. In 2023, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes—about 30% of all traffic fatalities.
Alcohol Use and Mental Health
The relationship between alcohol and mental health is two-way and complex. Many people use alcohol to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression, but over time alcohol can worsen mood, increase anxiety, and disrupt sleep cycles.
People with depression or anxiety are more likely to develop alcohol problems.
Alcohol misuse increases the risk of suicide, especially among young adults.
Co-occurring disorders (having both a mental health condition and an alcohol use disorder) are common; effective treatment must address both.
Therapists often see clients who drink to manage stress but then experience worsened mental health, creating a cycle that feels hard to escape.
Alcohol is often used as a quick way to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression—but long-term, it worsens mood, heightens anxiety, and disrupts sleep cycles.
Gender and Alcohol Use Trends
Traditionally, men drank more heavily than women, but recent data shows women’s heavy drinking rates are rising. Stress, workplace demands, and cultural shifts may be contributing. Women also face greater biological risks—alcohol-related liver disease and heart damage can occur at lower drinking levels than in men.
This narrowing gender gap is a concerning trend and signals the need for more targeted prevention efforts for women.
Women’s heavy drinking rates are on the rise, driven by stress and social shifts. Health risks like liver and heart damage occur at lower levels of drinking for women compared to men.
Alcohol, Stress, and Societal Factors
The COVID-19 pandemic amplified alcohol use for many. Sales rose sharply in 2020, and alcohol-related deaths jumped 26% that year. While some of that surge has eased, economic stress, job instability, and social isolation remain major drivers of drinking today.
Certain occupations—such as healthcare, law enforcement, and hospitality—show higher rates of risky drinking, often linked to long hours and stress.
Certain occupations such as healthcare, law enforcement, and hospitality show elevated rates of risky drinking—often tied to stress, long hours, and demanding environments.
Safer Drinking Guidelines
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans define moderate drinking as up to 1 drink/day for women and 2 for men. Drinking beyond these limits increases risks of liver disease, heart disease, and certain cancers.
Even small reductions in alcohol intake can significantly improve health. Replacing just one or two weekly drinking occasions with sober activities can improve sleep, mood, and energy.
Lifetime alcohol use is nearly universal among U.S. adults, with 85% reporting they’ve consumed alcohol at some point—87% of men and 83% of women.
When to Get Help
Warning signs include:
Drinking more often or in higher amounts
Difficulty cutting back
Relationship or work problems due to alcohol
Worsening anxiety, depression, or physical health issues
Hiding or minimizing alcohol use
Treatment options include therapy, support groups, medication-assisted treatment, and lifestyle changes. Many people recover fully with the right combination of support.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol & Mental Health (2025)
1. How many Americans currently drink alcohol?
About 62% of Americans ages 12 and older—around 179 million people—reported drinking in the past year. Alcohol remains the most widely used drug in the U.S., woven into social, cultural, and family traditions. While most people drink occasionally, a significant portion develop patterns that increase risk for health or emotional problems.
2. Are binge drinking rates going up or down?
Binge drinking rates have remained stubbornly high at 21.7% of adults, with little change in the last five years. Although prevention campaigns target younger adults, binge drinking is now increasingly seen among middle-aged adults, reflecting stress-related drinking. This pattern raises long-term health risks like liver disease and heart problems.
3. What percentage of teens are drinking?
Around 27% of teens (ages 12–20) had at least one drink in the past year, and 7.6% binge drank. While these numbers are lower than in previous decades, underage drinking is still a serious concern. Drinking in adolescence increases the risk of poor academic performance, accidents, and developing an alcohol use disorder later in life.
4. How many deaths are caused by alcohol?
Excessive alcohol use contributes to about 178,000 deaths every year in the United States. These include chronic illnesses like liver disease, cancers, and heart problems, as well as accidents, injuries, and impaired driving fatalities. Alcohol remains one of the leading preventable causes of death, second only to tobacco in many reports.
5. Is alcohol-related liver disease still rising?
Yes—alcohol-related liver disease has been steadily increasing, especially among middle-aged adults and women. Hospital admissions for liver disease are climbing as heavy drinking patterns persist. Because women’s bodies process alcohol differently, they can develop liver damage at lower levels of drinking compared to men.
6. How does alcohol affect mental health?
Alcohol can temporarily reduce anxiety or stress, but heavy or frequent use often worsens depression, irritability, and sleep issues. Over time, alcohol disrupts brain chemistry, creating a cycle where people drink more to cope, but their mental health continues to decline. People with depression or anxiety are also at higher risk for developing alcohol misuse.
7. Is alcohol use different for men and women?
Men are more likely to drink heavily, but women’s drinking patterns are rising quickly, narrowing the historical gap. This is concerning because women face greater health risks at lower levels of drinking, including liver disease, breast cancer, and heart problems. Social and cultural shifts, as well as stress, are driving these changes.
8. What’s the safest level of drinking?
The safest choice is not to drink at all, but for those who do, the guidelines suggest up to 1 drink per day for women and 2 for men. Drinking beyond these levels increases the risk of long-term health problems, accidents, and dependency. Even small reductions in weekly drinking can improve sleep, mood, and overall health.
9. What’s the link between alcohol and car crashes?
In 2023, alcohol was involved in about 30% of all traffic fatalities, claiming more than 12,000 lives. Even small amounts of alcohol impair judgment, reaction time, and coordination. Driving under the influence not only endangers the driver but also puts passengers and others on the road at risk.
10. How can I cut back on alcohol?
Cutting back often starts with setting clear limits, tracking how much you drink, and identifying triggers. Replacing alcohol with non-alcoholic alternatives, finding new coping strategies for stress, and asking friends to support your goals can help. For some, therapy or support groups provide additional accountability and encouragement.
11. When should someone seek professional help?
If alcohol use is impacting your health, relationships, mood, or safety, it’s time to seek help. Warning signs include drinking more than intended, struggling to cut back, or experiencing negative consequences but continuing to drink. A therapist or medical provider can help you find the right level of support.
12. Does alcohol always lead to addiction?
Not everyone who drinks will develop an alcohol use disorder, but risk is much higher with early drinking, family history, and co-occurring mental health issues. Addiction develops gradually, often starting with social or stress-related drinking that becomes more frequent over time. With awareness and support, many people can change patterns before they become severe.
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