With vaccinations on the rise and spring just around the corner, it may seem like it's time to party after what's been a long, dark winter, both figuratively and literally. But while you may be chomping at the bit to let your mask down and celebrate, you’ll have to wait a bit longer before you can responsibly blow off all that pent up steam. To help you pass the time until then, Best Life set out to determine the hardest-partying state in America.
To get to the bottom of where Americans really know how to have a good time, we analyzed five metrics. First, we looked at the number of bars per capita* in each state, calculated in 2020 by Business Insider using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Then, we gathered the most recent data available from Statista on the annual number of gallons of alcohol consumed per capita. And for a third and final alcohol-related statistic, we turned to America’s Health Rankings, which provided the percentage of adults in each state who reported “excessive drinking” (four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in a day) or “chronic drinking” (eight or more drinks for women and 15 or more drinks for men in a week) in the last 30 days.
Next, we turned our attention to another common party substance: marijuana. We used the percentage of adults in each state who used cannabis within the last year, according to Statista, and the most recent population data from the U.S. Census Bureau to calculate the number of cannabis users per capita.
Finally, we determined the number of party schools located in each state based upon Niche’s 2021 ranking of the Top 50 Party Schools in America. Each state that was home to one or more party school received a proportional amount of points corresponding to where each particular college or university landed in the ranking, with the list being broken down into tiers of 10 schools per group (e.g. schools ranked in the top 10 were assigned the most points; schools ranked 11-20 were assigned slightly fewer points, and so on.) If you see an “N/A” next to your state, that means it had no schools on the list and, therefore, had no points added or deducted from its final score.
We then assigned each of the five metrics a weighted value before running them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our 100-point scale Party Index. Read on to discover the hardest-partying state in America and find out where yours falls in the mix. And for more on the growing popularity of cannabis in the U.S., This Is the Most Stoned State in America.
*Per capita equates to per 100,000 residents in all instances.
50 | Arkansas
ShutterstockBars per capita: 3.8
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 1.78
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 14.9 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,820
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Arkansas (#45)
Party Index Score: 0.00
49 | Utah
ShutterstockBars per capita: 4.6
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 1.35
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 12 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 24,520
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 3.04
48 | Alabama
ShutterstockBars per capita: 5.1
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 1.99
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 13.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,050
Home to top 50 party school(s): The University of Alabama (#8)
Party Index Score: 6.13
47 | Mississippi
ShutterstockBars per capita: 3.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.17
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 14.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,260
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Mississippi (#18)
Party Index Score: 6.70
46 | Kentucky
iStockBars per capita: 6.9
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.17
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 16.8 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,150
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 7.70
45 | Maryland
ShutterstockBars per capita: 7.5
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.08
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 15.1 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 14,820
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 9.72
44 | New Mexico
ShutterstockBars per capita: 5.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.26
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 16.3 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 14,560
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 10.66
43 | North Carolina
ShutterstockBars per capita: 6.8
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.17
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 15.4 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 17,400
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 13.27
42 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockBars per capita: 10.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 1.85
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 13.7 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 18,990
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Oklahoma (#43)
Party Index Score: 13.66
41 | Arizona
ShutterstockBars per capita: 8.6
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.25
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 16.5 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,610
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Arizona (#49)
Party Index Score: 13.81
40 | Kansas
ShutterstockBars per capita: 10.6
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 1.92
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.7 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 11,670
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Kansas (#36)
Party Index Score: 14.78
39 | Connecticut
ShutterstockBars per capita: 8.7
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.4
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 17.7 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,000
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 16.83
38 | Georgia
ShutterstockBars per capita: 4.1
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 1.90
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 17.1 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,930
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Georgia (#6); Clark Atlanta University (#24); Morehouse College (#48)
Party Index Score: 16.88
37 | Tennessee
ShutterstockBars per capita: 5.0
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.14
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 15.8 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 20,870
Home to top 50 party school(s): Vanderbilt University (#23)
Party Index Score: 18.26
36 | New Jersey
ShutterstockBars per capita: 10.4
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.35
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 15.2 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 14,810
Home to top 50 party school(s): Rutgers University, New Brunswick (#28)
Party Index Score: 20.08
35 | Virginia
iStockBars per capita: 2.1
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.13
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 16.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 24,180
Home to top 50 party school(s): James Madison University (#33); University of Virginia (#35)
Party Index Score: 21.48
34 | Indiana
ShutterstockBars per capita: 13.6
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.15
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 16.5 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,820
Home to top 50 party school(s): Indiana University, Bloomington (#14)
Party Index Score: 23.02
33 | Missouri
ShutterstockBars per capita: 10.6
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.51
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.1 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 14,470
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Missouri (#42)
Party Index Score: 23.75
32 | Texas
iStockBars per capita: 9.6
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.26
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 19.3 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 11,210
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Texas, Austin (#17); Southern Methodist University (#21)
Party Index Score: 24.89
And for more states that aren't exactly above board, check out This Is the Most Corrupt State in America.
31 | Massachusetts
iStockBars per capita: 10.3
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.55
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 21.3 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,960
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Massachusetts, Amherst (#40)
Party Index Score: 28.53
30 | Maine
ShutterstockBars per capita: 9.0
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.85
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 19.9 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 15,890
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 29.16
29 | South Carolina
ShutterstockBars per capita: 7.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.16
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 20.1 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 20,070
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of South Carolina (#30); College of Charleston (#38)
Party Index Score: 29.18
28 | Hawaii
ShutterstockBars per capita: 14.5
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.66
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 19.3 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,960
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 30.32
27 | Washington
ShutterstockBars per capita: 12.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.22
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 15.7 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 24,530
Home to top 50 party school(s): Washington State University (#39)
Party Index Score: 30.65
26 | California
ShutterstockBars per capita: 8.4
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.49
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.3 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 11,160
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Southern California (#11); University of California, Santa Barbara (#15); San Diego State University (#19)
Party Index Score: 31.65
And for more on the least safe place in the country, This Is the Most Dangerous State in America.
25 | Colorado
ShutterstockBars per capita: 13.3
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.88
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 19.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,960
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Colorado, Boulder (#27)
Party Index Score: 34.38
24 | Delaware
ShutterstockBars per capita: 6.9
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 3.52
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.9 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,140
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Delaware (#22)
Party Index Score: 34.50
23 | West Virginia
ShutterstockBars per capita: 20.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 1.74
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 13.2 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 25,710
Home to top 50 party school(s): West Virginia University (#9)
Party Index Score: 35.09
22 | Michigan
ShutterstockBars per capita: 13.4
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.36
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 19.1 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 14,650
Home to top 50 party school(s): Michigan State University (#20); University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (#34); Western Michigan University (#47)
Party Index Score: 35.29
21 | New York
iStockBars per capita: 17.3
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.21
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.2 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 15,410
Home to top 50 party school(s): Syracuse (#7); University of Albany, SUNY (#46)
Party Index Score: 35.43
20 | Florida
iStockBars per capita: 8.4
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.61
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,240
Home to top 50 party school(s): Florida State University (#3); University of Miami (#25); Florida A&M University (#31); University of Florida (#32)
Party Index Score: 36.19
And for the area that's particularly vain, check out This Is the Most Selfish State in America.
19 | Louisiana
ShutterstockBars per capita: 16.5
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.55
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 20.8 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,170
Home to top 50 party school(s): Tulane University (#2)
Party Index Score: 36.71
18 | Minnesota
iStockBars per capita: 16.5
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.79
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 22 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,610
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 37.59
17 | Alaska
ShutterstockBars per capita: 21.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.85
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.2 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,700
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 38.02
16 | Idaho
ShutterstockBars per capita: 20.0
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.94
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.7 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,710
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 39.53
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15 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockBars per capita: 2.1
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 4.67
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 14,450
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 41.78
14 | Oregon
ShutterstockBars per capita: 20.8
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.74
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 19.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 17,200
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 42.80
13 | Illinois
ShutterstockBars per capita: 21.5
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.39
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 21.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 13,770
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (#5)
Party Index Score: 43.33
And for more on the place where you should always exercise extra caution, This Is the Most Dangerous City in America.
12 | Nebraska
ShutterstockBars per capita: 28.5
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.16
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 21.9 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 15,900
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 45.90
11 | Nevada
ShutterstockBars per capita: 22.4
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 3.42
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.4 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,420
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 46.96
10 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockBars per capita: 22.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.63
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 20.1 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 21,210
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 48.01
9 | Vermont
ShutterstockBars per capita: 16.2
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 3.06
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 21 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 22,610
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 49.25
8 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockBars per capita: 19.3
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.34
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 18,910
Home to top 50 party school(s): Penn State (#10); University of Pennsylvania (#29); Lehigh University (#44); Temple University (#50)
Party Index Score: 49.58
7 | Ohio
ShutterstockBars per capita: 15.9
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.03
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 18.7 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 20,890
Home to top 50 party school(s): Ohio University (#13); Miami University (#16); Ohio State University (#26); University of Dayton (#37); University of Cincinnati (#41)
Party Index Score: 49.90
6 | Iowa
ShutterstockBars per capita: 29.5
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.39
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 22.5 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 12,540
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Iowa (#12)
Party Index Score: 51.63
5 | South Dakota
iStockBars per capita: 37.5
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.37
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 22.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 18,890
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 63.57
4 | Wyoming
ShutterstockBars per capita: 29.4
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.78
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 19 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 27,770
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 64.24
3 | Montana
ShutterstockBars per capita: 50.6
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 3.10
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 22.7 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 15,530
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 85.34
2 | North Dakota
ShutterstockBars per capita: 51.9
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 3.16
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 23.3 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 18,680
Home to top 50 party school(s): N/A
Party Index Score: 91.89
1 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockBars per capita: 47.4
Gallons of alcohol consumed per capita: 2.93
Adults who reported excessive drinking: 23.6 percent
Cannabis users per capita: 28,560
Home to top 50 party school(s): University of Wisconsin (#1)
Party Index Score: 100.00
And for more on where alcohol flows most freely, This Is the Drunkest State in America.
