This list has no precise inclusion criteria as described in the Manual of Style for standalone lists.(May 2022) |
This is a list of the most notable people in Category:Alcohol-related deaths who died of short- and/or long-term effects of alcohol consumption. Deaths caused indirectly by alcohol, such as combined drug intoxication, or driving under the influence, are not listed here.
The Journal of the American Medical Association defines alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, as "a primary, chronic disease characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial." [1] The majority of people in this list died from causes brought on by alcoholism.
Name | Death date | Location | Cause | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Harwell | 4 September 2023 (aged 56) | Boise, Idaho, United States | Liver failure | Musician, singer |
Adam Zimmer | 31 October 2022 (aged 38) | Mendota Heights, Minnesota, United States | Complications of chronic ethanol use disorder | Professional football coach |
Allister Adel [2] | 30 April 2022 (aged 45) | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Alcohol-related issues | County Attorney for Maricopa County, 2019 to 2022 |
Vincent Jackson | 15 February 2021 (aged 38) | Brandon, Florida, United States | Chronic alcohol use | National Football League player |
Alexi Laiho | 29 December 2020 (aged 41) | Helsinki, Finland | Alcohol-related cirrhosis and pancreatitis | Professional Musician, heavy metal vocalist |
Patricia Minaldi | 1 December 2018 (aged 60) | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Alcohol-related issues | United States district judge |
Verne Troyer | 21 April 2018 (aged 49) | Los Angeles, United States | Suicide by alcohol intoxication | Actor and comedian |
Dolores O'Riordan | 15 January 2018 (aged 46) | London, England | Drowning due to alcohol intoxication | Singer |
David Cassidy | 21 November 2017 (aged 67) | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Kidney and liver failure due to alcohol abuse, was in a medically induced coma awaiting liver transplant | Singer, musician and actor |
Charles Kennedy | 1 June 2015 (aged 55) | Fort William, Scotland | Major haemorrhage linked to alcoholism | Liberal Democrat politician |
Elizabeth Peña | 14 October 2014 (aged 55) | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol, which caused acute gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest. [3] [4] | Actress |
Jason Molina | 16 May 2013 (aged 39) | Indianapolis, United States | Organ failure related to alcohol abuse | Musician |
Jeff Hanneman | 2 May 2013 (aged 49) | Inland Empire, California, United States | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Musician |
Amy Winehouse | 23 July 2011 (aged 27) | London, England | Alcohol intoxication | Singer/songwriter |
Gary Moore | 6 February 2011 (aged 58) | Estepona, Spain | Heart attack | Musician |
George Best | 25 November 2005 (aged 59) | London, England | Alcoholism and complications following a liver transplant | Football player |
Michael Elphick | 7 September 2002 (aged 55) | London, England | Alcoholism | Actor |
John Nathan-Turner | 1 May 2002 (aged 54) | Brighton, United Kingdom | Liver failure | Television producer |
Phil Katz | 14 April 2000 (aged 37) | Milwaukee, United States | Alcoholism | Computer programmer |
Oliver Reed | 2 May 1999 (aged 61) | Malta | Alcoholism | Actor |
Derek Newark | 11 August 1998 (aged 65) | London, England | Heart attack, brought on by liver failure after years of alcoholism | Actor |
Kevin Lloyd | 2 May 1998 (aged 49) | Staffordshire, England | Alcohol-related incident | Actor |
Brian Connolly | 10 February 1997 (aged 51) | Slough, United Kingdom | Renal failure | Singer |
Townes Van Zandt | 1 January 1997 (aged 52) | Smyrna, Tennessee, United States | Heart attack | Musician |
Mickey Mantle | 13 August 1995 (aged 63) | Dallas, United States | Liver cancer | New York Yankees center fielder |
Peter Cook | 9 January 1995 (aged 57) | London, England | Gastrointestinal haemorrhage | Comedian |
George Spenton-Foster | 26 December 1993 (aged 67) | London, England | Alcoholism | Television director |
28 January 1993 (aged 46) | Paris, France | Heart Attack | Wrestler | |
Keith Whitley | 9 May 1989 (aged 34) | Goodlettsville, Tennessee | Alcoholism | Country music singer |
John Cassavetes | 3 February 1989 (aged 59) | Los Angeles, United States | Alcohol-related cirrhosis | Film director |
Chögyam Trungpa | 4 April 1987 (aged 48) | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Alcoholism, alcohol-related liver cirrhosis, cardiac arrest | Buddhist meditation master |
Ian Hendry | 24 December 1984 (aged 53) | London, England | Stomach haemorrhage | Actor |
Truman Capote | 25 August 1984 (aged 59) | Los Angeles, United States | Liver disease | Writer |
Richard Burton | 5 August 1984 (aged 58) | Geneva, Switzerland | Cerebral haemorrhage | Actor |
John Dearth | 17 March 1984 (aged 63) | London, England | Alcoholism [5] [6] | Actor |
José Carlos Ary dos Santos | 18 January 1984 (aged 47) | Lisbon, Portugal | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Poet |
Garrincha | 20 January 1983 (aged 49) | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Alcoholism | Footballer |
John Bonham | 25 September 1980 (aged 32) | Windsor, United Kingdom | Asphyxiation | Drummer for Led Zeppelin, musician |
Yootha Joyce | 24 August 1980 (aged 53) | London, England | Alcoholism | Actress |
Vladimir Vysotsky | 25 July 1980 (aged 42) | Moscow, Soviet Union | Heart attack | Singer, songwriter, poet, and actor |
Bon Scott | 19 February 1980 (aged 33) | London, England | Acute alcohol intoxication | Lead singer and songwriter for hard rock band AC/DC |
Reginald Maudling | 14 February 1979 (aged 61) | Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, England | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis, Kidney failure | United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer |
Ed Wood | 10 December 1978 (aged 54) | Los Angeles, United States | Cardiac arrest | Film director |
Madan Mohan | 14 July 1975 (aged 51) | Mumbai, India | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Composer |
Veronica Lake | 7 July 1973 (aged 50) | Burlington, Vermont, United States | Acute hepatitis | Actress |
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan | 8 March 1973 (aged 27) | Corte Madera, California, United States | Gastrointestinal haemorrhage | Musician |
Geeta Dutt | 20 July 1972 (aged 41) | Mumbai, India | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Singer |
Clyde McPhatter | 13 June 1972 (aged 39) | The Bronx, New York, United States | Heart attack | R&B singer |
Meena Kumari | 31 March 1972 (aged 38) | Mumbai, India | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Actress, poet, singer, costume designer |
Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal | 12 September 1971 (aged 41) | Mumbai, India | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Composer |
A. A. Allen | 11 June 1970 (aged 59) | San Francisco, United States | Binge drinking | Evangelist |
Jack Kerouac | 21 October 1969 (aged 47) | St. Petersburg, Florida, United States | Alcoholism | Writer |
Barbara Payton | 8 May 1967 (aged 39) | San Diego, United States | Liver failure | Actress |
Shailendra | 14 December 1966 (aged 43) | Mumbai, India | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Lyricist |
James Thurber | 2 November 1961 (aged 66) | New York City, United States | Stroke | Cartoonist and writer |
Gail Russell | 26 August 1961 (aged 36) | Los Angeles, California | Liver damage, aspiration of vomit | Actress |
Errol Flynn | 14 October 1959 (aged 50) | Vancouver, Canada | Heart attack | Actor |
Billie Holiday | 17 July 1959 (aged 44) | New York City, United States | Cirrhosis | Singer |
Raymond Chandler | 26 March 1959 (aged 70) | San Diego, United States | Pneumonia | Writer |
Lester Young | 15 March 1959 (aged 49) | New York City, United States | Heart failure | Musician |
Joseph McCarthy | 2 May 1957 (aged 48) | Bethesda, Maryland, United States | Acute hepatitis | Republican U.S. Senator |
Ira Hayes | 24 January 1955 (aged 32) | Bapchule, Arizona, United States | Alcohol intoxication, hypothermia | War hero |
Dylan Thomas | 9 November 1953 (aged 39) | New York City, United States | Alcoholism | Writer |
Hank Williams | 1 January 1953 (aged 29) | Oak Hill, West Virginia, United States | Acute ventricular dilation | Musician |
Curly Howard | 18 January 1952 (aged 48) | San Gabriel, California, United States | Stroke | Actor |
Sinclair Lewis | 10 January 1951 (aged 65) | Rome, Italy | Alcoholism | Novelist, playwright, short story writer |
W. C. Fields | 25 December 1946 (aged 66) | Pasadena, California, United States | Alcoholism | Actor |
Lorenz Hart | 22 November 1943 (aged 48) | New York City, United States | Alcoholism | Lyricist |
John Barrymore | 29 May 1942 (aged 60) | Los Angeles, California, United States | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Actor |
Helen Morgan | 9 October 1941 (aged 41) | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Singer, actress |
F. Scott Fitzgerald | 21 December 1940 (aged 44) | Hollywood, California, United States | Heart attack | Writer |
Fernando Pessoa | 30 November 1935 (aged 47) | Lisbon, Portugal | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis or alcohol-related pancreatitis | Poet, writer, literary critic, translator, publisher and philosopher |
Bix Beiderbecke | 6 August 1931 (aged 28) | Queens, New York, United States | Pneumonia | Musician |
O. Henry | 5 June 1910 (aged 47) | New York City, United States | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | Writer |
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec | 9 September 1901 (aged 36) | Saint-André-du-Bois, France | Alcoholism | Painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator |
Pōmare V | 12 June 1891 (aged 51) | Royal Palace, Papeʻete, Tahiti | Alcoholism | The last monarch of Tahiti |
Modest Mussorgsky | 28 March 1881 (aged 42) | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Alcoholism, delirium tremens, epileptic seizure | Composer |
Franklin Pierce | 8 October 1869 (aged 64) | Concord, New Hampshire, United States | Edema or alcohol-related liver cirrhosis (death certification) | U.S. President |
Ardashir Mirza | 1866 (aged 58–59) | Tehran, Iran | Alcohol-related issues | Prince, and governor |
Daniel Webster | 24 October 1852 (aged 70) | Marshfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis | United States Secretary of State |
Ranjit Singh | 27 June 1839 (aged 58) | Lahore, Sikh Empire (present-day Punjab, Pakistan) | Alcoholism, liver failure, stroke | 1st Maharaja of the Sikh Empire |
Pōmare II | 7 December 1821 (aged 38–39) | Motu Uta, Papeete, Tahiti | Alcohol-related issues | The second king of Tahiti between 1782 and 1821 |
Ögedei Khan | 11 December 1241 (aged 54–55) | Mongolia | Alcoholism | The second Great Khan of Mongol Empire between 1227 and 1241 |
Béla II of Hungary | 13 February 1141 (aged 31–32) | Hungary | Alcohol-related issues | King of Hungary and Croatia from 1131 |
Gao Yang | 25 November 559 (aged 32–33) | Northern Qi, China | Long-term effects of alcohol | 1st emperor of the Northern Qi |
Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated there were 283 million people with alcohol use disorders worldwide as of 2016. The term alcoholism was first coined in 1852, but alcoholism and alcoholic are stigmatizing and discourage seeking treatment, so clinical diagnostic terms such as alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependence are used instead.
Alcohol intoxication, also known in overdose as alcohol poisoning, commonly described as drunkenness or inebriation, is the behavior and physical effects caused by a recent consumption of alcohol. In addition to the toxicity of ethanol, the main psychoactive component of alcoholic beverages, other physiological symptoms may arise from the activity of acetaldehyde, a metabolite of alcohol. These effects may not arise until hours after ingestion and may contribute to the condition colloquially known as a hangover. The term intoxication is commonly used when large amount of alcohol is consumed along with physical symptoms and deleterious health effects.
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods that are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, medical, and criminal justice contexts. In some cases, criminal or anti-social behavior occurs when the person is under the influence of a drug, and long-term personality changes in individuals may also occur. In addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, the use of some drugs may also lead to criminal penalties, although these vary widely depending on the local jurisdiction.
Drunk driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle with the operator's ability to do so impaired as a result of alcohol consumption, or with a blood alcohol level in excess of the legal limit. For drivers 21 years or older, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is illegal. For drivers under 21 years old, the legal limit is lower, with state limits ranging from 0.00 to 0.02. Lower BAC limits apply when operating boats, airplanes, or commercial vehicles. Among other names, the criminal offense of drunk driving may be called driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI), operating [a] vehicle under the influence of alcohol (OVI), or operating while impaired (OWI).
Driving under the influence (DUI) is the offense of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, to a level that renders the driver incapable of operating a motor vehicle safely. Multiple other terms are used for the offense in various jurisdictions.
Alcohol dependence is a previous psychiatric diagnosis in which an individual is physically or psychologically dependent upon alcohol.
Dipsomania is a historical term describing a medical condition involving an uncontrollable craving for alcohol or other drugs. In the 19th century, the term dipsomania was used to refer to a variety of alcohol-related problems, most of which are known today as alcohol use disorder. Dipsomania is occasionally still used to describe a particular condition of periodic, compulsive bouts of alcohol intake. The idea of dipsomania is important for its historical role in promoting a disease theory of chronic drunkenness. The word comes from Greek dipso and mania.
DWI courts are a form of court that exists in some United States legal jurisdictions, that use substance-abuse interventions and treatment with defendants who plead guilty of driving while intoxicated or impaired. DUI courts may focus on repeat offenders and drivers with very high levels of blood alcohol at the time of the offense. As of December 2011, there were approximately 192 designated DUI courts in the United States, and approximately 406 drug courts that also accept DUI offenders.
Alcohol has a number of effects on health. Short-term effects of alcohol consumption include intoxication and dehydration. Long-term effects of alcohol include changes in the metabolism of the liver and brain, several types of cancer and alcohol use disorder. Alcohol intoxication affects the brain, causing slurred speech, clumsiness, and delayed reflexes. There is an increased risk of developing an alcohol use disorder for teenagers while their brain is still developing. Adolescents who drink have a higher probability of injury including death.
Acamprosate, sold under the brand name Campral, is a medication which reduces alcoholism cravings. It is thought to stabilize chemical signaling in the brain that would otherwise be disrupted by alcohol withdrawal. When used alone, acamprosate is not an effective therapy for alcohol use disorder in most individuals, as it only addresses withdrawal symptoms and not psychological dependence. It facilitates a reduction in alcohol consumption as well as full abstinence when used in combination with psychosocial support or other drugs that address the addictive behavior.
The modern disease theory of alcoholism states that problem drinking is sometimes caused by a disease of the brain, characterized by altered brain structure and function. Today, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is used as a more scientific and suitable approach to alcohol dependence and alcohol-related problems.
A medical dictionary is a lexicon for words used in medicine. The four major medical dictionaries in the United States are Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions, Stedman's, Taber's, and Dorland's. Other significant medical dictionaries are distributed by Elsevier. Dictionaries often have multiple versions, with content adapted for different user groups. For example Stedman's Concise Medical Dictionary and Dorland's are for general use and allied health care, while the full text editions are reference works used by medical students, doctors, and health professionals. Medical dictionaries are commonly available in print, online, or as downloadable software packages for personal computers and smartphones.
An alcohol enema, also known colloquially as butt-chugging or boofing, is the act of introducing alcohol into the rectum and colon via the anus, i.e., as an enema. This method of alcohol consumption can be dangerous and even deadly because it leads to faster intoxication than drinking since the alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and bypasses the body's ability to reject the toxin by vomiting.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a set of symptoms that can occur following a reduction in alcohol use after a period of excessive use. Symptoms typically include anxiety, shakiness, sweating, vomiting, fast heart rate, and a mild fever. More severe symptoms may include seizures, and delirium tremens (DTs); which can be fatal in untreated patients. Symptoms start at around 6 hours after last drink. Peak incidence of seizures occurs at 24-36 hours and peak incidence of delirium tremens is at 48-72 hours.
Binge drinking, or heavy episodic drinking, is drinking alcoholic beverages with an intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time, but definitions vary considerably.
Alcohol and sex deals with the effects of the consumption of alcohol on sexual behavior. The effects of alcohol are balanced between its suppressive effects on sexual physiology, which will decrease sexual activity, and its suppression of psychological inhibitions, which may increase the desire for sex.
Alcohol consumption in Russia remains among the highest in the world. According to a 2011 report by the World Health Organization, annual per capita consumption of alcohol in Russia was about 15.76 litres of pure alcohol, the fourth-highest volume in Europe. It dropped to 11.7 litres in 2016, dropping further to about 10.5 litres in 2019. Another general trait of Russian alcohol consumption pattern was the high volume of spirits compared with other alcoholic drinks.
The legal drinking age varies from country to country. In the United States, the legal drinking age is currently 21. To curb excessive alcohol consumption by younger people, instead of raising the drinking age, other countries have raised the prices of alcohol beverages and encouraged the general public to drink less. Setting a legal drinking age of 21 is designed to discourage reckless alcohol consumption by youth, limiting consumption to those who are more mature, who can be expected to make reasonable and wise decisions when it comes to drinking.
Alcohol, sometimes referred to by the chemical name ethanol, is a depressant drug found in fermented beverages such as beer, wine, and distilled spirit -- in particular, rectified spirit. Ethanol is colloquially refereed to as "alcohol" because it is the most prevalent alcohol in alcoholic beverages, but technically all alcoholic beverages contain several types of psychoactive alcohols, that are categorized as primary, secondary, or tertiary; Primary alcohols are oxidized to aldehydes, secondary alcohols undergo oxidation to form ketones, while tertiary alcohols are generally resistant to oxidation; Ethanol is a primary alcohol that has unpleasant actions in the body, many of which are mediated by its toxic metabolite acetaldehyde. Less prevalent alcohols found in alcoholic beverages, are secondary, and tertiary alcohols. For example, the tertiary alcohol 2M2B which is up to 50 times more potent than ethanol and found in trace quantities in alcoholic beverages, has been synthesized and used as a designer drug. Alcoholic beverages are sometimes laced with toxic alcohols, such as methanol and isopropyl alcohol. A mild, brief exposure to isopropyl alcohol is unlikely to cause any serious harm, but many methanol poisoning incidents have occurred through history, since methanol is lethal even in small quantities, as little as 10–15 milliliters. Ethanol is used to treat methanol and ethylene glycol toxicity.
Many students attending colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions consume alcoholic beverages. The laws and social culture around this practice vary by country and institution type, and within an institution, some students may drink heavily whereas others may not drink at all. In the United States, drinking tends to be particularly associated with fraternities.