Brewing craft beer is great — that much we know — and drinking it responsibly is also great. But drinking too much of any alcohol is not so great.
A study sent our way by BAM Personal Injury Lawyers analyzed U.S. states to determine those with the most concerning levels of alcohol usage, focusing on key metrics that highlight health risks, public safety issues, and societal impacts.
The metrics included alcohol consumption per capita, the percentage of driving fatalities involving alcohol, and rates of excessive drinking — a term that includes both binge drinking and “heavy drinking.” Binge drinking is defined as consuming a large number of drinks in a short period (e.g., five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women in about two hours), while heavy drinking is defined as consuming a high average number of drinks over time. These rates and definitions come courtesy of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
The study also examined public interest in alcohol’s effects, the number of alcohol-related deaths, binge drinking frequency, and average daily deaths from excessive alcohol use. States were then ranked by composite scores, providing a comprehensive view of alcohol usage concerns across the U.S. Let’s take a look.
1 in 4 Adults Drink Excessively in These States
Excessive drinking stats
Montana takes the first position with a composite score of 100, which proves its high levels of alcohol-related concerns. Montana has the highest percentage of driving fatalities involving alcohol, at 46%, which is nearly half of all driving deaths in the state. This, along with an excessive drinking rate of 24.3%, poses a significant public safety issue.
Wisconsin ranks second with a composite score of 92.5. The state leads in excessive drinking rates, with 25.2% of adults engaging in binge or heavy drinking behaviors. The state also has one of the highest daily death rates from excessive alcohol use, averaging 7.3 deaths per day. This reflects a substantial health burden, placing Wisconsin among the top states where alcohol impacts public health and mortality rates most profoundly.
North Dakota ranks third with a composite score of 90.6. The state shares Montana’s high rate of alcohol-related driving fatalities, at 41%, indicating a similarly critical risk on the roads. Additionally, North Dakota’s alcohol consumption per capita is 3.3 gallons, one of the higher rates in the study.
New Hampshire comes in fourth with a composite score of 88.1. The state stands out for having the highest per capita alcohol consumption at 4.8 gallons, significantly above other states.
Nebraska, with a composite score of 83.9, ranks fifth. The state has a moderate alcohol consumption rate per capita at 2.2 gallons but maintains a high excessive drinking rate of 23.2%. This, along with 33% of driving fatalities involving alcohol, highlights a concerning level of alcohol misuse in the state.
Nevada follows in sixth place with a composite score of 81.1. The state has one of the highest average daily death rates from excessive alcohol use at 8.7 deaths per day, pointing to a major health issue.
Colorado ranks seventh with a composite score of 79.8. Colorado’s average daily deaths from excessive alcohol use stand at 6, revealing a serious health risk. Additionally, with 34% of driving fatalities involving alcohol, Colorado reflects both health and safety concerns in its drinking patterns.
New Mexico is ranked eighth, with a composite score of 75.4. The state’s lower excessive drinking rate of 17.4% contrasts with a high average of 2.5 daily deaths from excessive alcohol use, emphasizing the severity of health outcomes even among a relatively smaller excessive drinking population. Additionally, 29% of driving fatalities in New Mexico involve alcohol, highlighting a notable safety concern.
Iowa, with a composite scoreof 74.5, takes ninth place. Iowa’s excessive drinking rate is among the highest in the study at 24.6%, indicating a strong cultural norm of binge drinking. Its average of 3.6 daily deaths from excessive alcohol use points to significant health risks linked to alcohol.
Missouri rounds out the top ten with a composite score of 73.8. Missouri has the highest average daily death rate from excessive alcohol use, at 14.1 deaths per day, making it a notable outlier in mortality. This, combined with 28% of driving fatalities involving alcohol, proves Missouri’s severe public health and safety issues related to alcohol abuse.
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