Among working-age citizens in the U.S, 1 in 10 deaths result from excessive drinking, according to The Center For Disease Control Prevention (CDC).
Four or more drinks per occasion for both men and women is considered excessive drinking, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
These deaths are caused by the health effects of breast cancer, liver disease and heart disease, according to the CDC.
“…In total, there were 2.5 million years of potential life lost each year due to excessive alcohol use,” the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported.
Shanta Rishi Dube, Georgia State Division of Epidemiology and Bio Statistics professor, said the earlier you start drinking the more dependent you can become over time.
“To address excessive alcohol use, population level strategies, such as alcohol taxes may be one approach,” she said. “In addition, understanding that stress may be related to excessive drinking in working adults is necessary in order to have targeted interventions that address stress for that population.”
Jameka Byrom, 21 year-old public relations major at Georgia State, said she drinks once every two weeks.
“One reason I don’t drink much is because of the health risks, and it can be very addictive,” she said. “The ratio for excessive drinking in the U.S. makes me feel sad, and I think we should continue to spread awareness to friends and family.”
Gebann Wright, 23 year old film major at Georgia State, said he drinks three shots and a couple of glasses of alcohol per week. Wright said he feels bad about people drinking excessively.
“I don’t drink a lot because I know it isn’t good for me, although I could drink less,” Wright said.
