Iowa Alcohol Statistics & Facts

Iowa continues to grapple with problems with alcohol. The state regularly rates among the highest in the nation for alcohol consumption and heavy drinking. Drinking is considered heavy when it crosses the threshold of 14 drinks a week for men or seven drinks per week for women. There are a variety of reasons theorized why Iowa has such a propensity for binge drinking from its cold climate, college drinking culture, and even its German and Scandinavian ancestry. Regardless of the reason, alcohol awareness can help shine a light on these issues to help us socialize and deter them. Here are 12 statistics discussing how alcohol and liquor impact Iowa, including binge drinking, underage drinking, alcohol-related deaths, DUIs, and the economic impact.

Binge Drinking

• Males in Iowa were more likely to binge drink over females (28 percent versus 15 percent)
  • Source: Iowa Health and Human Services
• Almost a quarter (22 percent) of Iowans reported binge drinking over the previous 30 days according to a 2020 study. This is six percentage points above the national average (16 percent).
  • Source: Iowa Health and Human Services

Binge Drinking Among Minors

• 15 percent of minors in Iowa (aged 12-20) have reported binge drinking in the past month. This exceeds the national average of 10 percent.
  • Source: Iowa Health and Human Services
• Among 11^th graders in Iowa who reported drinking in the past month, over half of them (51 percent) said they binge drank at least once.
  • Source: Iowa Health and Human Services

Underaged Drinking

• Based on a 2019-2020 study, 23 percent of underaged youths (12 to 20) in Iowa reported drinking alcohol over the past 30 days. The national average for this age bracket is 17 percent.
  • Source: Iowa Health and Human Services
• 41 percent of Iowa 11th graders had consumed alcohol at some point in their lives according to a 2021 study.
  • Source: Iowa Health and Human Services

Alcohol-Related Deaths and Health Issues

• In 2022, 1,128 Iowans deaths were attributed from alcohol-related factors. Males outpaced females in fatal incidents at a pace of two to one (36.7 per 10,000 versus 17.1 per 10,000 people).
  • Source: Iowa Criminal Justice Snapshot
• Alcohol-related deaths in Iowa grew by 73 percent from 2008 to 2019.
  • Source: Iowa Health and Human Services
• Iowa ranks fourth highest in alcohol-related cancers nationally and first in the Midwest. This is largely due to the high instances of heavy and binge drinking.
  • Source: College of Public Health at the University of Iowa

Economic Impact

• It is estimated that excessive alcohol usage in Iowa accounted for a loss of $1.9 billion in 2020. This is based on healthcare costs, lost productivity, and criminal justice expenses.
  • Source: Iowa Health and Human Services

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

• In 2022, an impaired driver was involved in 35 percent of fatal car crashes in Iowa.
  • Source: Iowa Department of Public Safety
• Iowa law enforcement charged 1,100 drivers with OWI in 2022. A quarter of those were being charged with their 2^nd or 3^rd offense.
  • Source: Iowa Department of Public Safety