Alcohol consumption has been on the rise with binge-drinking increasing by 21% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zinnia Health explored binge-drinking trends and how they vary across several states.
Prevalence of binge drinking by state
Prevalence of binge drinking by state
Updated
While having an occasional drink may seem harmless, there are undoubtedly consequences for drinking heavily. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol consumption over time can lead to chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, liver disease, cancer, and has even accounted for 95,000 deaths a year in the U.S.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force, an independent, nonfederal group of public health and prevention experts, has suggested several strategies for preventing excessive drinking. Some of these suggestions include raised alcohol taxation, regulating the number of alcohol outlets and availability, and enforcing laws preventing alcohol sales to minors.
Citing data released by the CDC in October 2021 based on a May 2018 survey, Zinnia Health identified rates of binge drinking across the U.S. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks on one occasion for women and five or more for men. The research only surveyed people who binge drank in the past 30 days. The CDC definition does not encompass what qualifies as binge drinking for trans or nonbinary individuals.
Alabama
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 8.4
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.8
Alaska
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.6
- Median number of drinks: 5.4
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.6
Arizona
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.3
Arkansas
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.8
California
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7.9
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.5
Colorado
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.1
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.4
Connecticut
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7.8
- Median number of drinks: 5.2
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.3
Washington D.C.
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 6.9
- Median number of drinks: 5.2
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.4
Delaware
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.3
- Median number of drinks: 5.3
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.3
Florida
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 14.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.1
Georgia
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.7
- Median number of drinks: 5.3
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.5
Hawaii
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.1
- Median number of drinks: 5.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 13.3
Idaho
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 2
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.5
- Median number of drinks: 5.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 13.1
Illinois
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.7
- Median number of drinks: 5.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 14
Indiana
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.9
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 14.1
Iowa
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.5
- Median number of drinks: 5.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.9
Kansas
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 8.6
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.5
Kentucky
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 13.7
Louisiana
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 2
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.9
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.3
Maine
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.3
- Median number of drinks: 5.4
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.2
Maryland
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7.9
- Median number of drinks: 5.3
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10
Massachusetts
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7
- Median number of drinks: 5.4
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.2
Michigan
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.7
Minnesota
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.1
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.3
Mississippi
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 2.1
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 14.8
- Median number of drinks: 5.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 14.6
Missouri
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 14
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.7
Montana
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.1
- Median number of drinks: 5.4
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.4
Nebraska
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.1
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.4
Nevada
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7.4
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.2
New Hampshire
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.9
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.2
New Jersey
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: Estimates considered unreliable
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.2
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.7
New Mexico
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.4
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 13.1
New York
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7.7
- Median number of drinks: 5.4
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11
North Carolina
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.7
- Median number of drinks: 5.4
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.5
North Dakota
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 8.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 14.1
Ohio
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 12
- Median number of drinks: 5.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.8
Oklahoma
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.3
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.5
Oregon
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.6
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.9
Pennsylvania
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7.9
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.5
Rhode Island
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 8.5
- Median number of drinks: 5.4
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.7
South Carolina
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.4
- Median number of drinks: 5.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.7
South Dakota
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 7.8
- Median number of drinks: 5.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.6
Tennessee
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.8
Texas
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.9
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.7
Utah
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.4
Vermont
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.9
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.5
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.6
Virginia
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.6
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.8
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.3
Washington
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.2
- Median number of drinks: 5.3
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.9
West Virginia
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.8
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 15.2
- Median number of drinks: 6.4
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 14.6
Wisconsin
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.7
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 9.1
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.8
Wyoming
Updated
- Median times respondents binge drank in the past month: 1.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 10.4
- Median number of drinks: 5.5
--- Among top 10% of binge drinkers: 11.6
This story originally appeared on Zinnia Health and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
