Who Is The Face Of Excessive Drinking In America?

A new study has been released by the Centers for Disease Control analyzed excessive alcohol consumption in America, and how to prevent dependence. The study found, among other conclusions regarding American drinking habits, that the face of excessive alcohol consumption and binge drinking is most that of a wealthy male between the ages of 18-24, which fits the typical demographic of the college-aged partying lifestyle. However, people who are most likely to be dependent on alcohol were found to have incomes less than $25,000 per year.

The good news for those who like to indulge in partying on the weekend is that the study also found that 90 percent of heavy drinkers (that's five drinks or more in a sitting) are not actually alcoholics. This could mean that the dangers associated with binge drinking might be deterred by higher taxes, stricter drunk driving laws, and other preventive measures, since most binge drinkers aren't actually addicted and therefore can be more easily influenced by laws and social pressures. However, the study did find that the more a person indulged in binge drinking, the more likely they were to be, or become, alcohol-dependent.