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Alcohol Use

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Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, underage drinking, and drinking while pregnant.1

1. Excessive Alcohol Use. CDC. 5/23/24.

Why It's Important

Excessive alcohol use can lead to an increased risk of health problems, including injuries, violence, liver diseases, digestive problems, and mental health issues. Many leading causes of death, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and unintentional injuries, may be at least partially caused by the alcohol abuse.2

2. Alcohol Use and Your Health. CDC. 5/23/24.

Who's at Risk

The way the body processes alcohol is influenced by several factors, such as body size; composition of water, fat, and muscle; and hormones. These factors can differ by sex and sometimes by gender. Together, these differences affect how individuals process alcohol and how alcohol impacts their health.3

3. Sex and Gender Considerations on Alcohol Use and Health. CDC. 9/19/24.

How to Reduce Risk

  • Drink alcohol in moderation or choose not to drink at all.
  • Talk with your health care provider if you have concerns about your drinking.
  • Don't serve alcohol to those younger than 21 and support efforts to reduce underage drinking.
  • Don't give alcohol to people who have already had too much to drink.4
4. What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk of Alcohol-Related Harms. CDC. 5/15/24.

How It's Tracked

Alcohol use in New Jersey is primarily tracked through: Nationally, alcohol use is tracked using a range of surveys and tools, including the Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) application, which provides national and state estimates of alcohol-related health impacts.

Publications

Other Data and Information Resources

New Jersey

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services