Heavy drinking doesn’t only take a toll on a person’s health, it also hurts the wallet as well, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

The report released Monday found heavy drinking in the United States cost individuals and the government $223.5 billion in 2006 – or $1.90 per drink. Of the $1.90, the government paid approximately $.80. Researchers estimate excessive drinking cost individuals $746 in 2006, the last year data was available.

Binge drinking, defined as four or more drinks per occasion, and excessive consumption, defined as one or more drinks per day, has long been linked to death – about 79,000 deaths per year. However this new report found that outside of the loss of life, drinking also has a huge impact on productivity and government function.

“This research captures the reality that binge drinking means binge spending, not just for the person who drinks but for families, communities and society,” said CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden in a telebriefing.

Researchers for the Atlanta-based agency found that $92.9 billion of the total cost of excessive alcohol consumption was borne by the drinkers and their families. About 42 percent or $94.2 billion was borne by federal, state and local governments. Government agencies footed the bill for most of the health care expenses related to excessive drinking, while families – mostly low income households – bore most of the cost of lost productivity.

A recently released study found that during tough economic times, more people are turning to heavy drinking. Researchers at the University of Miami found as unemployment rose so did binge drinking and the number of cases of driving while intoxicated.

The CDC study was published online at the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.