What Does Alcohol Use Cost You? Alcohol use is very common among Warfighters, especially in social situations like celebrating a promotion. If you drink alcohol, you likely know it comes with health risks. Just as drinking takes a toll on your body, it can harm other aspects of your life too. Your finances, productivity and overall wellbeing are also impacted by alcohol and its effects. Financial Costs In the moment, it’s often easy to overlook how much you’re spending on alcohol. Buying one or two drinks per occasion may not seem like much, but over time, that cost quickly adds up. You may also end up spending more money if you have a high tolerance because your body needs a larger number of drinks to feel their effects. Since buying alcohol takes money away from other necessary expenses, it’s important to recognize how it affects your overall finances. If you’re unsure how much you currently spend on alcohol, use this calculator to estimate its impact on your budget each week, month and year. Alcohol Spending Calculator How many days per week do you drink? On a typical drinking day, how many drinks do you have? What’s the average price per drink? Here’s your average spending: 0.00per Week 0.00per Month 0.00per Year Take a moment to reflect on your findings. What could this money be used for instead of alcohol? Could you afford to live more comfortably, save up for a big purchase or go on a trip? What's your return on investment for buying alcohol? Was the money spent worth the feeling(s) you got from the purchase and associated experience? How might spending less on alcohol benefit your life and service? Would you be happier, healthier or more financially stable without drinking? Career Costs In addition to affecting your wallet, drinking alcohol can put your career at risk. Consuming too much can result in decreased productivity that affects your job performance. Imagine needing to complete a difficult task while still intoxicated or experiencing a hangover. Chances are you won’t be able to perform as well as you normally would, which may put yourself, others and the mission in jeopardy. This could endanger your unit and lead to disciplinary action that limits your opportunities for advancement. Depending on the severity, it may even be cause for separation from the military. Another serious consequence of irresponsible alcohol use is impaired decision making, such as choosing to drink and drive. Not only is it extremely dangerous to yourself and others, but driving under the influence (DUI) can also result in hefty fines, legal action and even discharge from service. Warfighters with a DUI charge are likely to lose rank and pay while spending over $10,000 on related expenses (e.g., attorney fees, court costs, higher insurance premiums). You may also lose your security clearance, face jail time and experience strained personal and professional relationships. Well-being Costs Though you may not initially consider your mental and physical health when thinking about alcohol-related costs, drinking effects your overall well-being. In general, consuming alcohol raises your risk for several types of cancer, dementia and many other chronic conditions that lower your quality of life. Having multiple health problems is also associated with higher health care costs and additional treatment-related expenses, further increasing the financial toll of alcohol. Drinking may damage your social relationships and worsen mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, too. Even if you only partake occasionally, alcohol can still cause harm and affect your ability to function normally. Drinking less benefits your health, productivity and wallet. Take the first step to control your drinking by assessing your relationship with alcohol. Then, build a plan to gradually reduce your alcohol intake. It’s never too late to change your drinking habits for the better! If you need extra support, talk to your health care team, command leadership or chaplain. Additional ResourcesOwn Your Limits - “Is Drinking Draining Your Wallet?”Own Your Limits - “What to Buy Instead of Booze”Warfighter Wellness - “Alcohol”ReferencesAlcohol.org - “How Much Is Alcoholism Costing You?”American Addiction Centers - “Financial Cost of Alcohol Use: How Much Is Alcohol Use Really Costing You?”Own Your Limits - “Cost of a DUI”
