Alaska Pays High Cost for Heavy Drinking

A new Centers for Disease Control report says Alaskans pay a heavy price for heavy drinking of alcohol.

The CDC analyzed costs in each state associated with heavy drinking.

The Anchorage Daily News reports Alaska has the distinction of paying the most for health care bills, car crashes and other issues related to alcohol – nearly $735 million per year and $1,096 per person.

Municipalities, state government and federal money pays two-fifths of that amount.

Utah and West Virginia had the lowest state costs.

Excessive drinking in the study includes binge drinking _ four drinks for women and five for men in one sitting.

It’s also defined as women averaging a drink or more per day, men averaging two drinks per day, underage drinking and drinking by pregnant women.