Americans spent over $39 billion on alcohol purchases in 2018, with an estimated 53.4 million people making purchases after drinking, spending an average of $736 annually. Food was the most purchased item, followed by clothes, shoes, and cigarettes. Only 8% of Americans with alcohol use disorder receive treatment each year, and alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death in the US.
Anyone who’s had a drink too many can hail a cab for a ride home, but what about when you’re shopping under the influence? It’s not a rhetorical question. According to Finder.com, a personal finance website, Americans spent more than $39 billion on booze purchases in 2018. Based on a survey of 2,000 adults, the site estimated that about a quarter of the population made purchases after drinking, or about 53.4 million people. The average amount spent was $736 USD annually. The site pointed out that while the overall numbers were down from a year earlier, when 46 percent of respondents admitted to drinking and shopping, the amount spent rose from $30.43 billion to $39.4 billion. In terms of what was purchased, food was at the top of the list, followed by clothes, shoes and cigarettes.
Alcohol and America:
Only eight percent of the approximately 15 million Americans with alcohol use disorder receive treatment each year.
Alcohol is considered the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, after tobacco and poor diet/lack of physical activity.
Binge drinking accounts for 75% of the $249 billion economic cost of alcohol abuse.
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