41 Of The 50 Drunkest Counties In The US Are In This State
It goes without saying that Americans like to party. Oftentimes, partying involves consuming copious amounts of adult beverages. Indeed, in addition to party-related use, many Americans indulge in alcoholic drinks like beer, wine, and cocktails to relax and unwind after a long day or to pair with a meal. Drinking alcohol in moderation is a relatively acceptable practice, depending on one's health conditions. However, drinking excessively can lead to some pretty serious consequences, including injury or potentially even death.
Trying new craft brews, attending a fancy wine tasting event, and checking out the new cocktail lounge in town can be a ton of fun, as long as the booze intake is moderated and drinkers stay responsible. It's no mystery that consuming alcohol, even casually, has become deeply infused in American culture. There is one state in this fine nation, however, whose inhabitants tend to drink more heavily than the rest. Here's a big hint: This state's largest metropolis is nicknamed "Brew City" for a very valid reason.
Wisconsinites like to drink. A lot.
According to the most recent data, Wisconsin has ranked the highest in the percentage of adults who binge drink, according to 24/7 Wall St. As it turns out, 82% of the top 50 drunkest counties in the country are in the Badger State. That's 41 Wisconsin counties out of all counties in the United States, if you do the math. The No. 1 drunkest? Outagamie County, Wisconsin, in which 31% of adults binge drink or drink heavily. (For those who are unfamiliar with Wisconsin geography, Appleton is the largest city in the county.)
How was this determined? County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a partnership program between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, surveyed and identified the U.S. counties with the highest excessive drinking rates. The list consists of counties in which more than one in every four adults drinks excessively. Nationwide, fewer than one in five adults drink excessively. Heavy drinking is defined as consuming more than one drink per day on average for women and more than two drinks a day for men, while binge drinking is the consumption of more than four drinks on a single occasion for women and more than five drinks for men, according to the program (via 24/7 Wall St.). It's extremely important to understand that alcohol affects everyone differently. About 90% of Americans who drink excessively do not deal with alcoholism.
As the saying goes, a little partying never hurt anybody, but please stay safe (especially you, Sconnies)!
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).