US Counties Where Drinking Deaths Are On the Rise

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2020 and 2021, more than 178,000 lives were claimed in the U.S. alone by alcohol-related causes, including not only disease but also alcohol poisoning and auto accidents. This represents an increase of 29% over the period from 2016 to 2017.

COVID-19 is considered to be largely to blame for increased drinking, and by extension, increased deaths from alcohol. Stress and boredom during the pandemic were contributing factors, and also, alcohol became easier to obtain, with restaurants in many places offering it with take-out food or meal delivery.

To discover the U.S. counties where drinking deaths have risen the most dramatically, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the CDC, ranking counties on the percentage change in the annual number of alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 residents from 2018 to 2021.

Scroll down to see the counties where drinking deaths have risen dramatically.

This post was updated June 25th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

50. Clark County, OH

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 80.9%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 22.9 per 100,000 residents (31 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 12.6 per 100,000 residents (17 total)
Median household income: $58,954
County seat: Springfield

49. York County, PA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 81.5%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 11.3 per 100,000 residents (52 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 6.2 per 100,000 residents (28 total)
Median household income: $79,183
County seat: York

48. Washtenaw County, MI

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 82.6%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 10.8 per 100,000 residents (40 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 5.9 per 100,000 residents (22 total)
Median household income: $84,245
County seat: Ann Arbor

47. Prince George's County, MD

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 84.2%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 9.3 per 100,000 residents (89 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 5.1 per 100,000 residents (46 total)
Median household income: $97,935
County seat: Upper Marlboro

46. Linn County, IA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 85.0%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 13.1 per 100,000 residents (30 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 7.1 per 100,000 residents (16 total)
Median household income: $75,457
County seat: Cedar Rapids

45. McLennan County, TX

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 85.5%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 17.5 per 100,000 residents (46 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 9.4 per 100,000 residents (24 total)
Median household income: $59,781
County seat: Waco

44. Cumberland County, NC

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 87.5%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 15.8 per 100,000 residents (53 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 8.4 per 100,000 residents (28 total)
Median household income: $55,551
County seat: Fayetteville

43. Montgomery County, TX

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 87.8%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 10.2 per 100,000 residents (66 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 5.4 per 100,000 residents (32 total)
Median household income: $95,946
County seat: Conroe

42. Suffolk County, MA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 88.4%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 10.5 per 100,000 residents (81 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 5.6 per 100,000 residents (45 total)
Median household income: $87,669
County seat: Boston

41. Summit County, OH

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 88.7%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 16.4 per 100,000 residents (88 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 8.7 per 100,000 residents (47 total)
Median household income: $68,360
County seat: Akron

40. Oakland County, MI

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 90.5%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 13.5 per 100,000 residents (171 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 7.1 per 100,000 residents (89 total)
Median household income: $92,620
County seat: Pontiac

39. Nueces County, TX

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 90.5%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 18.4 per 100,000 residents (65 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 9.7 per 100,000 residents (35 total)
Median household income: $64,027
County seat: Corpus Christi

38. Lubbock County, TX

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 91.3%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 14.3 per 100,000 residents (45 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 7.5 per 100,000 residents (23 total)
Median household income: $61,911
County seat: Lubbock

37. Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 91.5%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 38.7 per 100,000 residents (37 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 20.2 per 100,000 residents (20 total)
Median household income: $81,655
County seat: Fairbanks

36. Sandoval County, NM

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 91.8%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 46.2 per 100,000 residents (70 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 24.1 per 100,000 residents (35 total)
Median household income: $76,424
County seat: Bernalillo

35. Navajo County, AZ

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 93.4%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 115.6 per 100,000 residents (125 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 59.8 per 100,000 residents (66 total)
Median household income: $50,335
County seat: Holbrook

34. Pinal County, AZ

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 94.2%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 18.2 per 100,000 residents (82 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 9.4 per 100,000 residents (42 total)
Median household income: $73,313
County seat: Florence

33. Baldwin County, AL

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 95.2%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 18.8 per 100,000 residents (45 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 9.6 per 100,000 residents (21 total)
Median household income: $71,039
County seat: Bay Minette

32. Fayette County, KY

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 98.0%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 19.0 per 100,000 residents (61 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 9.6 per 100,000 residents (31 total)
Median household income: $66,087
County seat: Lexington

31. Gwinnett County, GA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 99.5%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 5.8 per 100,000 residents (56 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 2.9 per 100,000 residents (27 total)
Median household income: $82,296
County seat: Lawrenceville

30. Laramie County, WY

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 100.7%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 44.6 per 100,000 residents (45 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 22.2 per 100,000 residents (22 total)
Median household income: $76,282
County seat: Cheyenne

29. Adams County, CO

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 101.0%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 31.4 per 100,000 residents (164 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 15.6 per 100,000 residents (80 total)
Median household income: $86,297
County seat: Brighton

28. Weld County, CO

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 101.3%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 28.8 per 100,000 residents (98 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 14.3 per 100,000 residents (45 total)
Median household income: $89,182
County seat: Greeley

27. Beaufort County, SC

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 101.3%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 23.5 per 100,000 residents (45 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 11.7 per 100,000 residents (22 total)
Median household income: $81,260
County seat: Beaufort

26. Chatham County, GA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 102.7%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 18.2 per 100,000 residents (54 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 9.0 per 100,000 residents (26 total)
Median household income: $66,171
County seat: Savannah

25. Trumbull County, OH

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 103.1%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 17.4 per 100,000 residents (35 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 8.6 per 100,000 residents (17 total)
Median household income: $53,537
County seat: Warren

24. Pennington County, SD

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 103.7%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 47.4 per 100,000 residents (53 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 23.3 per 100,000 residents (26 total)
Median household income: $67,823
County seat: Rapid City

23. Fort Bend County, TX

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 104.4%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 5.7 per 100,000 residents (49 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 2.8 per 100,000 residents (22 total)
Median household income: $109,987
County seat: Richmond

22. Madison County, IL

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 106.2%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 12.5 per 100,000 residents (33 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 6.1 per 100,000 residents (16 total)
Median household income: $71,759
County seat: Edwardsville

21. Seminole County, FL

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 107.0%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 11.1 per 100,000 residents (52 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 5.3 per 100,000 residents (25 total)
Median household income: $79,490
County seat: Sanford

20. Guilford County, NC

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 107.4%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 14.4 per 100,000 residents (78 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 6.9 per 100,000 residents (37 total)
Median household income: $62,880
County seat: Greensboro

19. Outagamie County, WI

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 107.9%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 17.8 per 100,000 residents (34 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 8.5 per 100,000 residents (16 total)
Median household income: $78,705
County seat: Appleton

18. Kitsap County, WA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 112.1%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 25.2 per 100,000 residents (69 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 11.9 per 100,000 residents (32 total)
Median household income: $93,675
County seat: Port Orchard

17. Richland County, SC

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 118.0%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 15.8 per 100,000 residents (66 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 7.2 per 100,000 residents (30 total)
Median household income: $59,850
County seat: Columbia

16. Spartanburg County, SC

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 123.7%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 23.5 per 100,000 residents (79 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 10.5 per 100,000 residents (33 total)
Median household income: $61,955
County seat: Spartanburg

15. Forsyth County, NC

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 125.3%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 14.3 per 100,000 residents (55 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 6.3 per 100,000 residents (24 total)
Median household income: $61,229
County seat: Winston-Salem

14. Greenville County, SC

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 128.0%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 13.3 per 100,000 residents (71 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 5.8 per 100,000 residents (30 total)
Median household income: $71,328
County seat: Greenville

13. Benton County, WA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 131.8%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 19.5 per 100,000 residents (41 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 8.4 per 100,000 residents (17 total)
Median household income: $83,778
County seat: Prosser

12. Norfolk city, VA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 132.1%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 16.2 per 100,000 residents (38 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 7.0 per 100,000 residents (17 total)
Median household income: $60,998
County seat: Norfolk

11. Apache County, AZ

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 132.9%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 152.4 per 100,000 residents (100 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 65.4 per 100,000 residents (47 total)
Median household income: $37,483
County seat: St. Johns

10. Genesee County, MI

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 134.9%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 20.8 per 100,000 residents (84 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 8.8 per 100,000 residents (36 total)
Median household income: $58,594
County seat: Flint

9. Linn County, OR

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 135.4%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 37.0 per 100,000 residents (48 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 15.7 per 100,000 residents (20 total)
Median household income: $69,523
County seat: Albany

8. Boulder County, CO

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 139.4%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 22.8 per 100,000 residents (75 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 9.5 per 100,000 residents (31 total)
Median household income: $99,770
County seat: Boulder

7. Montgomery County, PA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 140.7%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 8.7 per 100,000 residents (75 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 3.6 per 100,000 residents (30 total)
Median household income: $107,441
County seat: Norristown

6. Madison County, AL

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 142.9%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 13.9 per 100,000 residents (55 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 5.7 per 100,000 residents (21 total)
Median household income: $78,058
County seat: Huntsville

5. Mohave County, AZ

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 146.0%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 52.8 per 100,000 residents (115 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 21.5 per 100,000 residents (45 total)
Median household income: $53,592
County seat: Kingman

4. Denton County, TX

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 153.4%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 8.0 per 100,000 residents (75 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 3.1 per 100,000 residents (27 total)
Median household income: $104,180
County seat: Denton

3. Ingham County, MI

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 155.4%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 20.1 per 100,000 residents (57 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 7.9 per 100,000 residents (23 total)
Median household income: $62,548
County seat: Mason

2. Cobb County, GA

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 163.2%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 9.4 per 100,000 residents (72 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 3.6 per 100,000 residents (27 total)
Median household income: $94,244
County seat: Marietta

1. Yellowstone County, MT

Increase in alcohol-related deaths per capita, 2018 to 2021: 230.0%
Alcohol-related deaths in 2021: 37.1 per 100,000 residents (62 total)
Alcohol-related deaths in 2018: 11.2 per 100,000 residents (18 total)
Median household income: $72,300
County seat: Billings