What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk of Alcohol-Related Harms

Key points

  • There are effective ways you can lower the risk of alcohol-related harms—for yourself, young people, and your community.
  • These effective solutions can also help you create environments that make it easier for people to choose to drink less, improving health and well-being.
Young couple walking on sidewalk.

Overview

Why it matters

  • Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death.
    • It is responsible for about 488 deaths per day in the United States.1
    • These deaths and alcohol-related illnesses can be prevented.
  • Excessive alcohol use can also increase the risk of harm to other people.
    • By creating environments that make drinking less an easier choice, you can improve the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, and others in your community.

Did you know?

Most people who drink excessively can choose to drink less without needing medical treatment.

Getting started

Improve your own health

You can:

  • Drink in moderation if you choose to drink alcohol, or choose not to drink.
  • Talk with your health care provider if you have concerns about your drinking.
  • Use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s National Helpline by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to find help near you.
    • If you have concerns about your drinking, you can use the helpline to find help near you.

Check your drinking‎

Take a few minutes to check your drinking. You will get personalized feedback that can help you decide if you want to drink less.

Support young people

Here's what you can do:

Help improve the health of your friends, loved ones, and community

Here's how you can help:

  1. Esser MB, Sherk A, Liu Y, Naimi TS. Deaths from excessive alcohol use — United States, 2016–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73:154–161. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7308a1