By Madeline Holcombe, CNN | November 02, 2022
A beer, glass of wine or cocktail may feel so common place that you don't even think about pouring another, but a new study suggested it may be important for everyone to be mindful of their alcohol use.
An estimated 1 in 5 deaths of people ages 20 to 49 were attributable to excessive alcohol use in the United States, according to the study published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open. For people ages 20 to 64, drinking-related deaths accounted for 1 in 8, the study said.
The percentage of deaths attributed to alcohol use varied state by state, but nationally it's a leading cause of preventable death, said lead study author Dr. Marissa Esser, who leads the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's alcohol program.
Researchers took national and state mortality data from 2015 to 2019 and looked at deaths either fully or partially attributable to excessive drinking. Those causes of death included vehicle accidents, alcohol poisoning and other health impacts, such as liver disease, Esser said.