We make no judgement of your drinking habits here at Brian’s Belly, we’re just delivering the news…<br />
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Excessive drinking took more than 75,000 lives in the United States in 2001, shortening the lives of each of those who died by an average of more than 30 years, a new government report says.<br />
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In all, a total of 2.3 million "years of potential life" were lost to alcohol abuse, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is about half of the total years of potential life lost due to smoking in 1999.<br />
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Excessive alcohol consumption is defined as more than two drinks per day or more than four drinks per occasion for men, and an average of more than one drink per day or more than three drinks per occasion for women. According to the report, it is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. All deaths from acute conditions were linked to binge drinking (defined as five or more drinks per occasion for men and four or more drinks per occasion for women).<br />
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By contrast, the report pointed out, excessive alcohol use saved an estimated 11 lives in 2001, all of them due to it protective role in reducing the risk of death from gall bladder disease.<br />
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Read the full story at <a href="http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2004/09/23/hscout521384.html"><strong>Forbes.com</strong></a>
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