New York State Department of Health & New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Encourage New Yorkers to Reduce Alcohol Consumption in the New Year

Excessive Alcohol Use Responsible for 8,000 Preventable and Premature Deaths Each Year in New York State

One in Six New York Adults Report Binge or Heavy Drinking

Drinking Less or Choosing Not to Drink Can Reduce Short- and Long-Term Health Risks

ALBANY, N.Y. (December 30, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health and the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) are encouraging more New Yorkers to decrease their alcohol consumption in the new year. Excessive alcohol use is associated with short- and long-term health outcomes and the new year is a good time to explore the benefits associated with drinking less alcohol.

"Drinking less alcohol or choosing not to drink can lead to significant improvements in your overall physical and mental health," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Those who reduce or stop drinking alcohol report better sleep patterns, more energy and overall improved mood. Reducing alcohol consumption can also reduce the risk of certain cancers, stroke, liver disease and other associated illnesses. Heading into the new year, I encourage New Yorkers to reduce their alcohol consumption and, for those who struggle with alcohol use, take advantage of the many resources available to help."

"Binge and heavy drinking can have serious—and sometimes life-threatening—health consequences," OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said." While reducing alcohol use can improve health and save lives, we know that for many people it isn't easy to do alone. New York offers prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services that are available 24/7, and help is always just one call away through the HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY."

Excessive alcohol use is one of the leading causes of preventable and premature deaths, responsible for 8,000 deaths annually in New York State and 178,000 preventable deaths in the United States.

Binge drinking and heavy drinking are two forms of excessive alcohol use. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), binge drinking for women is defined as consuming four or more drinks and for men, five or more drinks during one single occasion. Heavy drinking is defined as eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men.

According to the Department's latest Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) brief, in 2023 nearly 1 in 6 adults (16.2 percent) in New York reported excessive alcohol use in the form of either binge or heavy drinking. This is a significant reduction from the previous year (18.4 percent). The prevalence of binge drinking alone was also down in 2023 (14.9 percent) compared to 2022 (16.6 percent).

While the prevalence of binge and heavy drinking has gone down, certain groups face a disproportionate burden of alcohol-related harms. The BRFSS found the prevalence of binge drinking was significantly higher in males compared to females; among adults who were less than 35 years of age compared to older adults ages 55 and up; and among adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more compared to those with lower incomes.

Other Key Insights:

  • The prevalence of binge drinking and heavy drinking was significantly higher among adults who currently smoke cigarettes.
  • The prevalence of binge and heavy drinking among adults who reported current cannabis use was almost four times the prevalence reported by adults who do not use cannabis.
  • Binge and heavy drinking were higher in adults who reported frequent mental distress compared to those without frequent mental distress.
  • Binge drinking was higher among those who reported being employed or self-employed, compared to those who are unemployed or not in the labor force.

Excessive alcohol use is associated with an increased risk for several chronic diseases and conditions. Alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer and has been linked to an increased risk for developing at least seven different types of cancer including oral, liver, colon, rectum and breast cancers. Excessive alcohol use also increases the risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, liver disease and digestive diseases.

The more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time, the higher their risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer. An estimated 4.8 percent of cancer cases and 3.2 of all cancer deaths in New York State are attributable to alcohol consumption.

The short-term health effects of excessive alcohol use can also include motor vehicle crashes, violence, alcohol poisoning and overdose.

Those who need help finding treatment for alcohol or other substance use disorders are encouraged to talk to a health care provider or contact the HOPEline at 877-8-HOPE-NY.Treatment and prevention resources can be found on the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) website here.

Those who need help finding treatment for alcohol or other substance use disorders are encouraged to talk to a health care provider. Treatment and prevention resources can be found on the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) website here.

Individuals who are interested in reducing their alcohol use can visit this CDC tool to check their drinking and make a personalized plan for drinking less.

For more information on alcohol related causes of death in New York State, the latest available statistics can be found here.

Additional information related to excessive alcohol use and prevention in New York can be found on the State Health Department's dedicated webpage here, or contact the New York State Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology Program at AlcoholData@health.ny.gov.