Updated: January 2024

Author: Division of Substance Use Programs, Vermont Department of Health

This indicator, or population measure, is part of our Healthy Vermonters 2030 data set. Read more about how this data helps us understand and improve the well-being of people in Vermont on the Healthy Vermonters 2030 webpage.

Because this data is meant to show how the health of our state changes during the decade from 2020-2030, some indicators may have very few data points for now. Keep checking back to see the progress our public health system and partners are making.

We would like to see the percent of people under age 20 who engage in binge drinking to decrease to 14% or lower by 2030.

Alcohol is the most used substance by Vermonters and a risky behavior that is associated with disease, injury, and other unsafe behaviors. Addressing risky behaviors, and the social and institutional inequities that lead to them help us to improve the health of all Vermonters.  National data shows that Vermonters in all age groups - youth (12-17), young adults (18-25), and adults (26+) - drink alcohol at higher rates compared to the country overall.

Looking for more data?

• Look at previous data on percent of students in grades 9-12 binge drinking from our 2020 Scorecards (note this is specific to students in grades 9-12).
• See the corresponding national Healthy People 2030 objective for reducing the rate of people under 21 who binge drink.

The percent of people binge drinking who are under age 21 in Vermont is significantly higher than the national average (15% vs 8% in 2022). As another comparison, the percent of people binge drinking who are under 21 is nearly the same as that of people over the legal age of 21 (18% in 2022).

Binge drinking significantly increases by grade throughout high school. (Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey).

People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at 21.

You can find more information in this Department of Health data brief on Alcohol-Related Deaths Among Vermonters.

According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) results, alcohol is the most commonly used substance among Vermonters. From the 2022 BRFSS data, binge drinking is common, especially among males, persons aged 18-34, who are white, though 21% of members of the BIPOC community reported binge drinking as compared to 18% for their White, non-Hispanic counterparts. Further, LGBTQ+ adults and adults with no disability are statistically more likely to binge drink than non-LGBTQ+ adults and those with a disability.

According to the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in 20 middle school students

consumed at least one drink during the previous 30 days. Of those, one in five reported binge drinking. A quarter of high school students (25%) drank alcohol during the past 30 days, and 1 in eight binge drank (12%).

According to a 2018 review article focused on adolescent binge drinking, “Binge drinking in adolescence has been associated with multiple acute harms to health, including possible effects of heavy drinking on neuropsychological functioning and potential longer term adverse young-adult outcomes.”

A comprehensive approach using multiple evidence-based programs, practices, and policies such as those listed in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) or recommended by The Community Guide. These include programs serving youth and families, as well as community-wide strategies such as media advocacy and community education.

Binge Alcohol Use is defined as drinking five or more drinks (for males) or four or more drinks (for females) on the same occasion (i.e., at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on at least 1 day in the past 30 days.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is conducted annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

NSDUH provides nationally representative data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs; substance use disorders; receipt of substance use treatment; mental health issues; and the use of mental health services among the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 or older in the United States. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health.

The data for this indicator combines 2 years. Data prior to 2021 is not comparable to later data.