There are a lot of Americans drinking a lot of alcohol. Binge drinking rates in the U.S. are at a much higher rate than previously thought, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC found that more than 38 million Americans binge drink four times a month – consuming an average of eight drinks each time. And it’s not just young adults. Although it is more common between the ages of 18-34, those 65 and older reportedly binge drink more often – five to six times a month. The frequency of binge drinking is higher in households with an income of $75,000 or more. But the highest number of drinks consumed per occasion is by people living just above or below the poverty line, with eight to nine drinks per occasion. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women on a single occasion. According to the CDC, binge drinkers are at a higher risk for many health and social problems, including car accidents, violence, liver disease, certain cancers, heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies. Overconsumption of alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death, with more than 80,000 fatalities in the U.S. each year. The economic toll of binge drinking is also on the rise, costing more than $223.5 billion in 2006. The Top 20 binge-drinking communities:
| 1. (Tie) Kapaa, HA | 23.0% | 11. (Tie) Omaha, NE | 19.5% |
| 1. (Tie) Key West, FL | 23.0% | 11. (Tie) Springfield, MA | 19.5% |
| 3. Lincoln, NE | 22.7% | 12. Tie) Buffalo, NY | 19.4% |
| 4. Scranton, PA | 21.4% | 12. (Tie) Burlington, VT | 19.4% |
| 5. Worcester, MA | 21.2% | 12. (Tie) Grand Island, NE | 19.4% |
| 6. Bridgeport, CT | 20.5% | 12.(Tie) Kahului, HI | 19.4% |
| 7. Akron, OH | 20.4% | 12. (Tie) San Antonio, TX | 19.4% |
| 8. Norfolk, NE | 20.2% | 18. Wilmington, DE | 19.2% |
| 9. Boston, MA | 20.1% | 19. Cape Coral, FL | 19.1% |
| 10. Virginia Beach, VA | 19.9% | 20. Sioux Falls, SD | 19.0% |
