• Alcohol is a substance that is known to increase the risk of certain cancers and other chronic health conditions.
• Excessive alcohol use is a major public health issue in New York state.
• More than 54.9% of adults in NYS drink alcohol and according to CDC data, an estimated 3.2% of all cancer deaths in NYS are attributed to alcohol consumption.¹
• Studies have shown that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption. Even at low levels of consumption your health can be negatively affected, regardless of beverage type.^2,3
• Binge drinking is the most common pattern of excessive alcohol use.

U.S Dietary Guidelines on Alcohol Consumption

Drinking charts can be helpful to see what is considered a “standard drink” so you can monitor your consumption and make more accurate estimates. This is important because drinks often contain more alcohol than people think, leading to them drinking in excess.

In the United States, a standard drink is “any drink containing 14 grams, or about 0.6 fluid ounces, of pure ethanol”.⁴ The chart below shows sample standard drinks, but it’s important to remember that actual alcohol content and serving sizes can vary based on the type/brand of drink.

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommends that for healthy adults who choose to drink and do not fall into one of the groups below, can minimize their alcohol-related health risks (though not eliminate), by limiting intakes to⁵:

• For women—1 drink or less in a day
• For men—2 drinks or less in a day

For some individuals it is safest to not consume alcohol at all. You should consider avoiding alcohol altogether if you⁵:

• Take certain medications
• Have certain medical conditions
• Are underage and can’t drink legally (under 21 years old)
• Plan to drive or operate machinery.
• Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• Are recovering from alcohol use disorder

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Excessive Alcohol Use & Binge Drinking

What is Considered Excessive Alcohol Use?

Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, underage drinking, and pregnant drinking.

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Tip

Did you know that excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States, shortening the lives of those who die by an average of 23 years.⁴ It is estimated that more than 178,000 deaths each year are attributed to excessive alcohol use.⁴ Excessive alcohol use is also associated with many health problems, including at least seven types of cancer.⁵ Drinking alcohol at high-risk levels can impact different areas of your wellbeing, even if you never become addicted.

By being aware and drinking in moderation (if you do choose to drink) you can reduce your risk for alcohol-related health problems.

Check your drinking using this Alcohol Screening Tool from the CDC.

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Evidence

Alcohol affects nearly every organ in the body and it a central nervous system depressant.⁶ Excessive alcohol use is associated with various health problems that can have both immediate and chronic effects.

Short-Term Health Effects

Over drinking can have immediate effects such as^2,3:

• Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, and burns
• Violence, including homicide, suicide, and sexual assault
• Alcohol poisoning
• Risky sexual behaviors that can result in unintended pregnancy or getting a sexually transmitted infection or HIV
• Miscarriage and birth defects such as fetal alcohol syndrome if pregnant

Long-Term Health Effects

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to chronic diseases and have serious lasting effects, including^2,3:

• Heart and liver disease
• Stroke
• Cancer (i.e., cancers of the mouth and throat, larynx, esophagus, colon and rectum, liver and breast)
• Weakened immune system
• Dementia
• Poor school performance
• Mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety
• Alcohol use disorders

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Recommendations

How to contribute to preventing excessive alcohol use:

1.) Learn about the benefits of drinking less alcohol.

2.) Consider avoiding alcohol altogether if you:

• Take certain medications
• Have certain medical conditions
• Are underage and can’t drink legally (under 21 years old)
• Plan to drive or operate machinery.
• Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• Are recovering from alcohol use disorder

3.) If you choose to drink, drink in moderation, and help others do the same¹²:

• For women, up to 1 drink a day.
• For men, up to 2 drinks a day.

4.) Talk to your healthcare provider about your drinking behaviors and request counseling if you drink excessively.⁷

5.) Never encourage alcohol use or provide drinks to those who should not be drinking (i.e., those under age 21, those who have already drank too much, individuals who are driving, etc.).⁷

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Addiction Resources

National

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• American Addiction Centers

Local (Suffolk County and NY)

• NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports
• Suffolk County Substance Abuse Resource Center
• Suffolk Stop Addictions

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Resources for More Information

• New York State Department of Health Bureau of Cancer Epidemiology, 2024. Alcohol-Related Cancers in NYS, 2016-2020.
• World Health Organization, 2023. No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health
• Arora, M., ElSayed, A., Beger, B., Naidoo, P., Shilton, T., Jain, N., Armstrong-Walenczak, K., Mwangi, J., Wang, Y., Eiselé, J.-L., Pinto, F.J. and Champagne, B.M. The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health: Myths and Measures. Global Heart. 2022;17(1):45. DOI:
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], 2023. Drinking levels defined
• NIAAA, n.d. What is a Standard Drink?
• Alcohol-Related Cancers in New York State, 2016-2020:
• Dietary Guidelines for Alcohol and US Standard Drink Sizes
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Excessive Alcohol Use
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Alcohols Effects on the Body
• Drink Aware - The benefits of drinking less

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References

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2024. Understanding Binge Drinking
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019. What is Excessive Alcohol Use?
3. CDC, 2022. Excessive Alcohol Use
4. CDC, 2024. Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use in the United States.
5. World Health Organization [WHO], 2023. No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.
6. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, n.d. College Drinking Prevention. Alcohol and You: An Interactive Body.
7. CDC, 2024. Preventing Excessive Alcohol Use.