Excessive drinking, particularly binge drinking, says a new report from the Center for Disease Control, cost the U.S. economy nearly $250 billion in 2010. Binge drinking is defined as more than four drinks for women or more than five for men.
The study’s authors tracked the costs of consequences associated with heavy drinking, such as the price of lost productivity, criminal-justice fees for alcohol-related crimes, and medical bills. At $90 billion, lost productivity of hungover workers who either showed up for work or who were unable to come in at all, was the most significant cost associated with heavy drinking.
