Boozing costs the US billions every year
Source: Agencies |
October 19, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Heavy drinking is costing the US economy more than US$223 billion a year, mostly in lost workplace productivity, according to a health agency.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that in 2006 the price tag for excessive drinking was nearly 21 percent higher than the US$185 billion it cost in 1998, the last time a similar study was conducted.
Nearly three-quarters was due to lost productivity and most of this was income lost by drinkers themselves.
Healthcare outlays accounted for another 11 percent of the total economic cost, followed by criminal justice expenses and the cost of vehicle crashes caused by impaired drivers.
The CDC defines excessive drinking as more than one alcoholic drink a day for women, and more than two for men.
But the agency said nearly three-quarters of the costs resulted from binge drinking - four or more drinks per occasion for women and five or more for men.
The researchers found that US$92.9 billion, or 41.5 percent, was absorbed by the drinkers and their families, largely in the form of lower household income.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that in 2006 the price tag for excessive drinking was nearly 21 percent higher than the US$185 billion it cost in 1998, the last time a similar study was conducted.
Nearly three-quarters was due to lost productivity and most of this was income lost by drinkers themselves.
Healthcare outlays accounted for another 11 percent of the total economic cost, followed by criminal justice expenses and the cost of vehicle crashes caused by impaired drivers.
The CDC defines excessive drinking as more than one alcoholic drink a day for women, and more than two for men.
But the agency said nearly three-quarters of the costs resulted from binge drinking - four or more drinks per occasion for women and five or more for men.
The researchers found that US$92.9 billion, or 41.5 percent, was absorbed by the drinkers and their families, largely in the form of lower household income.
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