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Newly released federal data indicates that alcohol consumption in the US has increased during the pandemic, with the number of deaths caused by alcohol rising by more than 45%. Between 2018 and 2021, alcohol was the primary cause of death for over 54,000 Americans, causing nearly 17,000 more deaths than just a few years before, in 2018. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism attributes the increase to the stress and isolation brought about by the pandemic, alongside factors including stagnant alcohol taxes, increased marketing to women, and social despair leading to mental health and addiction crises. Apparent consumption of alcohol in the US increased by 6.6% between 2018 and 2021, reaching an average of about 2.8 gallons per person annually.