New York State Department of Health Recognizes Alcohol Awareness Month

Excessive Alcohol Use Cited as One of Leading Causes of Premature Death in U.S.

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 3, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes Alcohol Awareness Month, observed annually in April, to raise awareness about excessive alcohol use and its impacts on health.

"Binge drinking and heavy drinking are extremely harmful to the body and can cause a devastating impact on individuals and their loved ones," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Binge and heavy drinking lead to thousands of premature deaths in New York every year. The Department remains committed to providing resources and support to people who struggle with alcohol use and raising awareness about the dangers of alcohol consumption."

"Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to numerous health issues, including a higher risk of cancer, heart disease, and liver disease, in addition to the possibility of developing an alcohol use disorder," Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. "While it is a legal substance that can be consumed safely, it is important to take precautions to guard against these risks. For New Yorkers who experience problems with alcohol or other substances, OASAS has a robust system of support services and resources to address whatever their individual needs may be and support their overall health and well-being."

Binge drinking and heavy drinking are two patterns of excessive alcohol use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines binge drinking as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on a single occasion. Heavy drinking is defined as consuming eight or more drinks per-week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men.

The latest findings in the Department's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) report, an annual survey of adults, showed that nearly 1 in 5 adults reported excessive alcohol use in the form of either binge or heavy drinking with an estimated 16.6 percent of adults in New York State reporting binge drinking and 6.1 percent reporting heavy drinking. The prevalence of binge drinking increased significantly from 14.9 percent in 2021 to 16.6 percent in 2022.

Binge and heavy drinking can impact all population groups, but the BRFSS report found that binge drinking was more commonly reported in men from all income levels and all adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more. White, non-Hispanic adults also reported higher rates of binge drinking (18.9 percent) and heavy drinking (7.9 percent) when compared to adults representing other racial and ethnic groups. The prevalence of binge drinking was significantly higher in adults who reported frequent mental distress, and among adults who currently smoke cigarettes.

Excessive alcohol use is one of the leading causes of preventable and premature deaths in the U.S. and is responsible for more than 8,000 deaths annually in New York, and more than 170,000 deaths nationwide. Excessive drinking is also associated with both short-term and long-term health outcomes. Short-term outcomes include unintentional injuries and violence. Long-term health impacts include increased risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, liver disease, and other digestive diseases. An estimated 3.2 percent of all cancer deaths in New York State are also attributable to alcohol consumption.

Alcohol-related harms can be effectively reduced through evidence-based policies and prevention programs. According to a January 2023 survey of adult New Yorkers, nearly 50 percent support increasing the sales tax on alcohol products, 56 percent support banning outdoor advertising of alcohol, and 75 percent support requiring additional health warnings on alcohol containers.

The Department is dedicated to reducing the risk of alcohol-related deaths and injuries.

The New York State Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology Program was established in 2021 through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct public health surveillance on excessive alcohol use and its related harms in New York State. The Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology Program works in partnership with the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).

The goal of the Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology Program is to reduce excessive alcohol use and its related harms through:

  • Monitoring and sharing data on excessive alcohol use and its related harms to inform prevention efforts.
  • Developing partnerships with state and local entities to collaborate on prevention efforts.
  • Increasing awareness about the public health impact of excessive alcohol use among partners and the public.
  • Building support for population-based policy and environmental changes to reduce excessive alcohol use.

The program convenes the Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology Workgroup (ASEW), a network of data experts and prevention partners brought together to examine the patterns, context, and impact of excessive alcohol use in New York State.

For help finding treatment for alcohol or other substance dependence, treatment and prevention resources are available on the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports website.

For more information related to excessive alcohol use and prevention, please visit this web page or contact the NYS Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology Program at AlcoholData@health.ny.gov.

To reduce alcohol use, visit the CDC's tool to check drinking patterns and make a personalized plan for drinking less.