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Adult Binge Drinking

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Percent of Adults Reporting Having 5 or More Drinks (4 or More for Females) in a Row on at Least One Occasion within the Past 30 Days, All Available Years: by Gender and Region

200420102015
FemaleMaleTotalFemaleMaleTotalFemaleMaleTotal
Minnesota13.4%24.3%18.8%13.3%23.4%18.2%10.2%17.9%13.9%
East Central14.9%26.2%20.6%15.6%25.5%20.0%11.6%21.3%16.4%
Metro13.6%22.9%18.1%13.3%23.0%18.2%10.4%17.4%13.8%
Northwest15.5%29.2%22.3%14.3%23.4%18.5%9.4%18.5%13.8%
Northeast11.6%26.9%19.3%12.2%28.2%19.9%12.4%17.6%15.0%
Southeast11.4%23.0%16.9%13.2%21.2%17.1%10.6%17.9%14.3%
Southwest14.0%26.5%20.1%12.2%20.8%16.4%6.2%16.3%11.2%
West Central12.9%24.6%18.6%11.3%28.0%19.3%8.8%17.8%13.3%

About the Indicator: Acute, short-term "binge drinking" is defined as having five or more drinks of alcohol on a single occasion for men and four or more drinks of alcohol on a single occasion for women. Binge drinking has been associated with alcohol related injuries and deaths, as well as violence and crime.

Minnesota's binge drinking rates have been consistently higher than the national average. According to the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 22% of Minnesotans ages 18 and older reported binge drinking compared to 18% nationally (rate ratio: 1.21). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health defines binge drinking as five or more drinks in a row on a single occasion--both for men and women. In 2010/2011, 26.2% of Minnesotans ages 12 and older reported binge drinking as compared to 22.9% nationally (rate ratio: 1.14). For more information, see the Minnesota State Epidemiological Profile, also accessible from the SUMN.org home page.

Data Source: Minnesota Survey of Adult Substance Use (MNSASU)

Description: The Minnesota Survey on Adult Substance Use is conducted to obtain current estimates of the number of adults in the general population in Minnesota who are abusing or dependent on alcohol or other drugs and are in need of treatment. The prevalence of substance abuse and dependence and need for treatment were assessed for the total population, and by region, race and ethnicity, gender, age group, and sexual orientation.  The population for this survey included Minnesota residents 18 years of age or older and non-institutionalized.

Sponsored by: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement

Geographic Level: State, Region. 

Frequency: The most recent survey was conducted in 2015; previous surveys were conducted in 2010 and 2004.

Characteristics: The sample was stratified by region, and African Americans, American Indians, Latinos, Hmong and other Asian Americans were over-sampled to ensure adequate numbers of respondents to provide reliable estimates for these sub-groups. The survey instrument included demographic information, diagnostic measures of abuse of and dependence on alcohol or drugs, use of treatment services, depression, serious mental illness and body weight. These data are self-reported.