No matter where you go in the U.S., you’re always close to a good stiff drink—from the whiskey distilleries of Tennessee and the sprawling vineyards of California to the trendy micro-breweries of New England. But how can you measure which state is truly the most enamored with the hard stuff?
We started by analyzing the most recent data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which calculates the number of gallons of ethanol consumed per state per 100,000 residents over the age of 14. (“Ethanol” here refers to beer, wine, and spirits—not the alcohol that goes in hand sanitizer.) But that just gives us a flat number of how much people drink. What about the social aspect of drinking? We used the most recent U.S. Census data to figure out the number of bars per capita for every state and factored that in, along with industry data from the Brewers Association on the number of craft breweries in each state. (Beer can be made anywhere, whereas large parts of the U.S. don’t have the climate for winemaking.) Finally, we considered the negative effects of drinking too much, using American Addiction Centers’ analysis of DUI arrests per capita for each state.
Our custom algorithm compiled these metrics to create the Drunk Score, determining the booziest state in the U.S. That’s not to say everyone living in the higher-ranking states are alcoholics or even like to party hard, of course.
The results had some surprises: The state with the highest alcohol consumption per capita also has the fewest bars, for example. Ultimately, the state at the top of our list came in first for bars per capita, second for DUI arrests, and fourth for gallons consumed. Read on to find out the results, ranked from the most sober state to the drunkest state. And for more state rivalries, check out This Is the Most Hated State in America.
Read the original article on Best Life.
50 | Utah
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 1.33 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 4.66
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 253.05
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.35
Drunk Score: 0.08
And for other places that aren't the prettiest, check out This Is the Ugliest State in the U.S.
49 | Arkansas
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 1.78 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 4.09
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 198.95
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.4
Drunk Score: 5.84
48 | Georgia
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 1.9 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 3.96
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 198.95
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.06
Drunk Score: 6.32
And for more states that could clean up their act, check out This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S.
47 | Alabama
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 1.99 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 5.16
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 147.19
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.04
Drunk Score: 8.2
46 | Kansas
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 1.92 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 10.34
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 186.96
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.03
Drunk Score: 13.59
45 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 1.85 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 10.3
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 243.61
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.4
Drunk Score: 14.02
44 | Mississippi
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.17 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 3.15
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 256.36
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.41
Drunk Score: 14.4
43 | Virginia
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.13 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 2.14
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 227.3
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.41
Drunk Score: 14.54
42 | Maryland
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.08 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 7.36
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 227.3
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.4
Drunk Score: 16.51
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41 | West Virginia
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 1.74 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 17.62
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 237.32
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.55
Drunk Score: 17.42
40 | New Mexico
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.26 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 5.26
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 156.88
Number of craft breweries per capita: 4.49
Drunk Score: 17.56
39 | Kentucky
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 1.95 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 6.84
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 339.44
Number of craft breweries per capita: 4.49
Drunk Score: 17.65
38 | Tennessee
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.14 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 5.14
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 287.89
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.59
Drunk Score: 17.88
37 | Ohio
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.03 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 15.69
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 128.74
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.66
Drunk Score: 18.04
36 | South Carolina
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.16 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 7
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 303.81
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.73
Drunk Score: 20.56
35 | Texas
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.26 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 9.6
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 226.29
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.19
Drunk Score: 20.62
34 | North Carolina
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.17 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 7.06
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 291.64
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.21
Drunk Score: 21.77
33 | Indiana
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.15 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 13.35
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 198.09
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.87
Drunk Score: 21.84
32 | New York
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.15 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 17.67
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 138.94
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.17
Drunk Score: 23.08
31 | Florida
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.61 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 8.22
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 154.05
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.55
Drunk Score: 23.68
30 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.55 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 10.37
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 125.9
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.54
Drunk Score: 23.94
29 | New Jersey
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.36 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 10.14
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 242.79
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.43
Drunk Score: 23.98
28 | Connecticut
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.4 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 8.12
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 230.38
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.91
Drunk Score: 24.17
27 | Illinois
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.39 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 21.8
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 18.53
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.23
Drunk Score: 24.65
26 | Arizona
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.25 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 8.68
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 338.01
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.77
Drunk Score: 25.18
25 | Nebraska
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.16 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 27.37
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 40.77
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.86
Drunk Score: 26.05
24 | Louisiana
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.55 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 16.75
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 131.27
Number of craft breweries per capita: 0.86
Drunk Score: 27.43
23 | California
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.49 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 8.43
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 311.6
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.3
Drunk Score: 29.12
22 | Michigan
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.36 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 13.29
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 266
Number of craft breweries per capita: 4.01
Drunk Score: 30.08
21 | Missouri
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.51 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 10.28
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 300.35
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.29
Drunk Score: 30.45
20 | Washington
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.22 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 12.57
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 337.49
Number of craft breweries per capita: 5.62
Drunk Score: 31.52
19 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.34 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 18.77
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 352.54
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.13
Drunk Score: 36.84
18 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.63 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 21.92
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 168.95
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.12
Drunk Score: 36.99
17 | Delaware
iStockAlcohol consumption per capita: 3.52 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 7.35
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 35.94
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.8
Drunk Score: 37.11
16 | Hawaii
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.66 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 13.23
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 420.11
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.69
Drunk Score: 40.35
15 | Minnesota
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.79 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 16.09
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 341.96
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.5
Drunk Score: 43.57
14 | Iowa
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.39 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 28.58
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 320.2
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.33
Drunk Score: 44.26
13 | Idaho
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.94 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 19.37
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 311.79
Number of craft breweries per capita: 4.17
Drunk Score: 48.45
12 | Oregon
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.74 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 20.59
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 317.39
Number of craft breweries per capita: 7.44
Drunk Score: 49.02
11 | Maine
Joseph Sohm/ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.85 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 9.56
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 435.75
Number of craft breweries per capita: 9.93
Drunk Score: 50.33
10 | Colorado
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.88 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 13.48
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 415.79
Number of craft breweries per capita: 7.47
Drunk Score: 50.59
9 | Alaska
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.85 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 19.86
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 421.96
Number of craft breweries per capita: 6.12
Drunk Score: 53.87
8 | Nevada
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 3.42 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 22.2
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 312.82
Number of craft breweries per capita: 1.49
Drunk Score: 57.47
7 | Vermont
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 3.06 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 15.86
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 392.4
Number of craft breweries per capita: 10.89
Drunk Score: 58.47
6 | Wyoming
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.78 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 28.05
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 563.19
Number of craft breweries per capita: 7.1
Drunk Score: 66.03
5 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.93 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 47.16
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 405.36
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.53
Drunk Score: 73.34
4 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 4.67 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 1.77
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 355.01
Number of craft breweries per capita: 6.72
Drunk Score: 73.49
3 | South Dakota
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 2.37 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 36.53
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 929.1
Number of craft breweries per capita: 3.76
Drunk Score: 77.13
2 | Montana
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 3.1 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 50.06
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 409.55
Number of craft breweries per capita: 8.67
Drunk Score: 84.38
1 | North Dakota
ShutterstockAlcohol consumption per capita: 3.16 gallons
Number of bars per capita: 52.24
Number of DUI arrests per capita: 833.42
Number of craft breweries per capita: 2.9
Drunk Score: 99.94
