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Maine Value:
Percentage of adults who reported binge drinking (four or more drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days for females or five or more for males) or heavy drinking (eight or more drinks per week for females or 15 or more for males)
Maine Rank:
Percentage of adults who reported binge drinking (four or more drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days for females or five or more for males) or heavy drinking (eight or more drinks per week for females or 15 or more for males)
11.9% - 15.1%
15.2% - 16.4%
16.5% - 17.5%
17.6% - 19.4%
19.5% - 27.2%
No Data
US Value: 17.0 %
Top State(s): Utah: 11.9 %
Bottom State(s): Montana: 22.5 %
Definition: Percentage of adults who reported binge drinking (four or more drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days for females or five or more for males) or heavy drinking (eight or more drinks per week for females or 15 or more for males)
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Death rates from alcohol-related causes increased significantly between 2012 and 2022. An estimated 178,000 people die every year from excessive alcohol use, making it one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States, behind tobacco and poor diet/physical inactivity. Short- and long-term excessive alcohol consumption can have negative impacts on individuals and those around them. Short-term excessive alcohol use is associated with poor decision-making and risky behaviors such as unprotected sex. It also increases the risk of alcohol poisoning, unintentional injuries like falls, drownings, burns and motor vehicle accidents, and violence such as homicide, suicide and sexual assault. Risks associated with long-term excessive alcohol use include:
Excessive drinking is responsible for an average of 488 deaths per day. In 2010, excessive alcohol use cost the U.S. a total of $249 billion, resulting from lower labor performance, property damage, crashes, criminal justice needs and health care costs.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of excessive drinking is higher among:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that certain individuals abstain from alcohol consumption altogether, including anyone younger than 21 and those who are pregnant. For those who do drink, consuming alcohol in moderation can reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes.
A recent study found that reducing alcohol consumption can decrease cancer mortality caused by alcohol use. It is recommended to limit alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. More detailed recommendations for moderate drinking are provided by the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that clinicians screen adults for unhealthy alcohol use and provide behavioral counseling interventions when appropriate. The CDC has a free online alcohol screening tool to anonymously check one’s drinking, identify barriers to and motivators for drinking less, and make a personalized change plan.
Some evidence-based strategies to reduce excessive drinking and related health and social costs include:
Healthy People 2030 has multiple alcohol-related goals, including:
Esser, Marissa B., Adam Sherk, Yong Liu, S. Jane Henley, and Timothy S. Naimi. “Reducing Alcohol Use to Prevent Cancer Deaths: Estimated Effects Among U.S. Adults.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 66, no. 4 (April 2024): 725–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2023.12.003.
Esser, Marissa B., Adam Sherk, Yong Liu, and Timothy S. Naimi. “Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use — United States, 2016–2021.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 73, no. 8 (February 29, 2024): 154–61. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7308a1.
Llamosas-Falcón, Laura, Omer S. M. Hasan, Paul A. Shuper, and Jürgen Rehm. “A Systematic Review on the Impact of Alcohol Use on Sexually Transmitted Infections.” International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, March 31, 2023. https://doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.381.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December 2020. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf.
World Health Organization. Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2018. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/274603.
World Health Organization. Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. Geneva, Switzerland, 2024.https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/377960/9789240096745-eng.pdf.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
