Cost of Drinking Calculator

Drinking can be an expensive habit. While you may not notice a dollar here or two dollars there, consider how much you spend per week and per year on alcohol.

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Average number of drinks per day	Average price per drink (in dollars and cents, for example 4.50)	Days per week that you drink	Average weekly subtotal	Yearly total
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One drink is defined as one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer or wine cooler; one 5-ounce glass of wine; or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. The amount of alcohol in any size drink will vary based on the amount of alcohol in the drink. For example, the amount of alcohol in a 12-ounce beer can vary from 4 to 6 percent or more.

A 750 ml bottle of wine contains about 5 5-ounce glasses; a liter bottle contains about 6 glasses.

A fifth of distilled spirits contains about 25 1-ounce shots; a quart contains about 32 shots; a liter contains about 33 shots.

Your Results

On average, your drinking costs are per week and per year.

Positive Effects on Health

A daily drink, such as a glass of wine, may reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke. Keep your alcohol use at a reasonable level so you can enjoy those benefits. For men, a reasonable level is one to two drinks per day. For women, it is no more than one drink a day.

Negative Effects on Health

About one in every 13 American adults - or more than 14 million! - abuses alcohol or has alcohol dependence, called alcoholism. Abusing or misusing alcohol can have serious, or even life-threatening, consequences.

Heavy drinking may boost the risk for cancers of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx. Heavy drinking can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, immune system problems, brain damage, alcoholic hepatitis, and harm to the fetus during pregnancy. Some of these problems develop over time, and women are more likely to develop these problems in a shorter time than are men.

In addition, hangovers that result from five to six drinks for a 175-pound man and three to five drinks for a 130-pound woman are likely to affect a person's heart, nerves, and mental health.

Compromised Safety

Drinking increases the risk for death and injuries from automobile crashes and accidents in the home. Drinking can also lead to public disorder, family abuse, or social difficulties. Homicides and suicides are more likely to be committed by people who have been drinking.

Reduced Productivity

Drinking can lead to problems on the job, including absenteeism, lowered productivity, and lowered quality of work. In purely economic terms, alcohol-related problems cost society approximately $225 billion per year.

Weigh the costs, benefits, and risks of your own drinking to see if your drinking is affordable, healthy and safe for you.

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional health care. Always consult a health care provider for advice concerning your health. Only your health care provider can advise you about your health.