Addressing Excessive Alcohol Use: State Fact Sheets

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Excessive alcohol use can harm your health. It includes binge drinking, defined as consuming 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more drinks for women on an occasion, heavy drinking, defined as 15 or more drinks for men or 8 or more drinks for women per week, and any alcohol use by pregnant women or people younger than 21.

Drinking too much is associated with:¹

• Violence.
• Sexual risk behaviors.
• Alcohol poisoning.
• Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes.
• Cancer.
• Liver disease.
• High blood pressure.
• Alcohol use disorder.

What Works to Prevent Excessive Alcohol Use

The Community Preventive Services Task Force—an independent, nonfederal, volunteer body of public health and prevention experts—recommends several evidence-based strategies to reduce excessive alcohol use and related harms at the population level. These strategies can help communities create social and physical environments that encourage drinking less alcohol. Use of these strategies can reduce binge drinking and related outcomes, such as motor vehicle crashes, injuries, violence, and sexually transmitted infections.

Regulate Alcohol Outlet Density

Alcohol outlet density refers to the number and concentration of alcohol retailers (such as bars, restaurants, and liquor stores) in an area. Greater alcohol outlet density is associated with excessive alcohol use and related harms, including injuries and violence.⁷ Some states have local authority to regulate outlets at the local level, while in others, it is controlled by the state.

• density^8,9

Increase Alcohol Taxes

Alcohol taxes affect the price of alcohol and can reduce alcohol consumption, raise revenue, or both. Alcohol taxes can include excise, ad valorem, or sales taxes at the local, state, or federal level, all of which affect the price of alcohol.¹⁰

• beerTax¹¹ localAuthorityTax^12,13

Have Commercial Host (Dram Shop) Liability Laws

Commercial host liability, also known as dram shop liability, refers to laws that hold alcohol retailers liable for injuries or harms caused by illegal service to intoxicated or underage customers.¹⁴

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Maintain Limits on Days and Hours of Sale

States or localities may limit the days or hours that alcohol can legally be sold or served.^17,18 These laws may apply to on-premises retailers (such as bars, restaurants, or clubs where alcohol is consumed on-site) or off-premises retailers (such as liquor, convenience, or grocery stores where alcohol is consumed off-site).

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Privatize Retail Alcohol Sales (recommended against)

The privatization of alcohol retail sales refers to the government allowing private, nongovernment retailers to sell alcoholic beverages (beer, distilled spirits, or wine).²⁰

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Enhanced Enforcement of Laws Prohibiting Sales to Minors

The minimum legal age when an individual can purchase alcoholic beverages is 21 years. An enhanced enforcement program initiates or increases compliance checks at alcohol retailers (such as bars, restaurants, and liquor stores).^21,22