Excess alcohol consumption is a big problem in our country. It can lead to unsafe driving and serious health conditions, among other negative consequences. As such, alcohol servers have a responsibility to serve patrons with moderation in mind.
Here are some national statistics related to alcohol (from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) and why an alcohol server certification is so important.
10.9 million people aged 12-20 (28.3% in this age group) reportedly drank in the past year.
Underage drinking remains a significant issue and alcohol servers are often one of the first lines of defense in ensuring minors don’t consume alcohol. According to this statistic, more than one in four teens have admitted to drinking in the past year, but the real number is likely higher.
12% of young adults engaged in high-intensity drinking in 2019.
It’s no secret that college students tend to over-consume alcohol, as they are often in environments where this is encouraged and they have easier access to it. As an alcohol server, you might need to be especially aware of young adults who enter your establishment, especially since they may consume more than they realize.
2.2 million people aged 12 and older had alcohol use disorder and received treatment.
While it’s a good thing that those who have alcohol use issues are getting treatment, this should bring to light how many people struggle with this disorder. People with alcohol use disorder are also more likely to seek a primary care provider for alcohol-related medical problems, further emphasizing the need for moderation.
Nearly half of the 100,000+ liver disease deaths for people aged 12 or older in 2021 involved alcohol.
About 47 percent, to be specific. That percentage is even higher for males (50.2%) than females (42.8%). Other medical issues that can be caused by consuming too much alcohol (or too consistently) include cirrhosis, hepatitis and cancer.
Alcohol-related emergency department visits increased by 47% from 2006-2014.
That’s an average annual increase of 210,000 alcohol-related ER visits and goes to show that these alcohol-related issues have been getting worse in recent years.
There are an estimated 140,000 alcohol-related deaths each year.
This makes it one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States, behind tobacco, poor diet, physical inactivity and illegal drugs. The number of alcohol-related deaths is more than twice as high for men (approx. 97,000) than it is for women (approx.43,000).
These are just a few of the most surprising and important statistics related to alcohol—check out the NIH’s Alcohol Facts and Statistics page to learn more. Also, consider our alcohol server certification course, where you can learn more important facts, statistics and best practices related to alcohol and serving it responsibly.
