BACKGROUND: Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of 80,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and cost $223.5 billion ($1.90/drink) in 2006. Comparable state estimates of this cost are needed to help inform prevention strategies. PURPOSE: The goal of the study was to estimate the economic cost of excessive drinking by state for 2006. METHODS: From December 2011 to November 2012, an expert panel developed methods to allocate component costs from the 2006 national estimate to states for (1) total; (2) government; (3) binge drinking; and (4) underage drinking costs. Differences in average state wages were used to adjust productivity losses. RESULTS: In 2006, the median state cost of excessive drinking was $2.9 billion (range: $31.9 billion [California] to $419.6 million [North Dakota]); the median cost per drink, $1.91 (range: $2.74 [Utah] to $0.88 [New Hampshire]); and the median per capita cost, $703 (range: $1662 [District of Columbia] to $578 [Utah]). A median of 42% of state costs were paid by government (range: 45.0% [Utah] to 37.0% [Mississippi]). Binge drinking was responsible for a median of 76.6% of state costs (range: 83.1% [Louisiana] to 71.6% [Massachusetts]); underage drinking, a median of 11.2% of state costs (range: 20.0% [Wyoming] to 5.5% [District of Columbia]). CONCLUSIONS: Excessive drinking cost states a median of $2.9 billion in 2006. Most of the costs were due to binge drinking and about $2 of every $5 were paid by government. The Guide to Community Preventive Services has recommended several evidence-based strategies-including increasing alcohol excise taxes, limiting alcohol outlet density, and commercial host liability-that can help reduce excessive alcohol use and the associated economic costs.
BACKGROUND: Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of 80,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and cost $223.5 billion ($1.90/drink) in 2006. Comparable state estimates of this cost are needed to help inform prevention strategies. PURPOSE: The goal of the study was to estimate the economic cost of excessive drinking by state for 2006. METHODS: From December 2011 to November 2012, an expert panel developed methods to allocate component costs from the 2006 national estimate to states for (1) total; (2) government; (3) binge drinking; and (4) underage drinking costs. Differences in average state wages were used to adjust productivity losses. RESULTS: In 2006, the median state cost of excessive drinking was $2.9 billion (range: $31.9 billion [California] to $419.6 million [North Dakota]); the median cost per drink, $1.91 (range: $2.74 [Utah] to $0.88 [New Hampshire]); and the median per capita cost, $703 (range: $1662 [District of Columbia] to $578 [Utah]). A median of 42% of state costs were paid by government (range: 45.0% [Utah] to 37.0% [Mississippi]). Binge drinking was responsible for a median of 76.6% of state costs (range: 83.1% [Louisiana] to 71.6% [Massachusetts]); underage drinking, a median of 11.2% of state costs (range: 20.0% [Wyoming] to 5.5% [District of Columbia]). CONCLUSIONS: Excessive drinking cost states a median of $2.9 billion in 2006. Most of the costs were due to binge drinking and about $2 of every $5 were paid by government. The Guide to Community Preventive Services has recommended several evidence-based strategies-including increasing alcohol excise taxes, limiting alcohol outlet density, and commercial host liability-that can help reduce excessive alcohol use and the associated economic costs.
Authors: Miguel Muñoz-Laboy; Omar Martínez; Vincent Guilamo-Ramos; Jeffrey Draine; Karin Eyrich Garg; Ethan Levine; Alexandra Ripkin Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2017-10
Authors: Ziming Xuan; Jason Blanchette; Toben F Nelson; Timothy Heeren; Nadia Oussayef; Timothy S Naimi Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2014-08-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Katarina Guttmannova; Christine M Lee; Jason R Kilmer; Charles B Fleming; Isaac C Rhew; Rick Kosterman; Mary E Larimer Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2015-12-21 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Scott A Wegner; Katherine A Pollard; Viktor Kharazia; David Darevsky; Luz Perez; Sanjoy Roychowdhury; Allison Xu; Dorit Ron; Laura E Nagy; Frederic Woodward Hopf Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2017-01-19 Impact factor: 3.455