Alcohol Consumption Statistics

The Latest Data on Alcohol Consumption Across the Globe

According to Our World in Data, alcohol consumption is responsible for “2.8 million premature deaths per year” across the globe.  Countries with the largest amount of alcohol consumption per person include the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Moldova.  According to the most recent data collected and released by the agency, 54% of adults surveyed in the United States drank alcohol, 16.9% admitted to binge drinking and 6.9% admitted to heavy drinking within the previous 30-day period.  Research indicates that heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking has the greatest health risks.

Excessive alcohol use and alcohol dependence can lead to a condition known as Alcohol Use Disorder.  Alcohol Use Disorder is a serious condition which has many health risks including premature death.  Studies show that an “estimated 1.4 percent of the population have an alcohol use disorder.”  Males were significantly more likely to experience alcohol disorder.  It is estimated that “around 185,000 people died directly from alcohol use disorders in 2017.”

Few people diagnosed with alcohol use disorder seek treatment.  In the United States, as few as 8% of those with alcohol use disorder received treatment, while in South Korea only 1.6% sought treatment.  New Zealanders were the most likely to seek treatment for alcoholism, with nearly 30% of those diagnosed entering into some kind of recovery program. 

Alcohol dependence can have devastating consequences.  Not only is heavy alcohol use and binge drinking attributable to a number of diseases and health risks, it also results in a high number of traffic fatalities.

Learn more about the realities of alcohol consumption in the United States and across the globe from Our World in Data: Alcohol Consumption.