5 States with the Most Alcohol Related Deaths in the US

4. South Dakota

Average Death Rate per 100,000 People: 21.2

The number of alcohol-related deaths in South Dakota increased by 159% over the last decade, from 156 deaths in 2012 to 404 in 2021. The state also ranked second in the country for the rate at which its residents die of liver diseases, with about 17.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2017.

As a result, the Mount Rushmore State has taken a number of initiatives to control excessive drinking. The state’s innovative 24/7 Sobriety Program requires those arrested for or convicted of alcohol-involved offenses to take twice-a-day breathalyzer tests or wear a continuous alcohol monitoring bracelet.