This article looks at the 50 drunkest counties in every state in the US. You can skip our detailed analysis about excessive drinking in the country and head over directly to the 10 Drunkest Counties in Every State in the US.
Drinking Alcohol – Boon or Bane?
The alcohol beverage industry in the United States was valued at $270 billion in 2022, with more than 3.4 billion cases sold. Beer/FMB/hard seltzer represented 44% of the share, followed by spirits at 40%, and wine at 16% share. The industry generates around $70 billion in tax revenue and sustains four million jobs across the country. While alcohol consumption in the US contributes significantly to the American economy, there is also an obvious downside to heavy drinking.
READ ALSO: 20 Drunkest States in the US and 30 Drunkest Countries in the World.
Excessive alcohol consumption accounts for around 178,000 deaths in the United States each year. It shortens the life expectancy of those who die by about 24 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Damages related to excessive drinking – including healthcare costs, crashes, property damage, lost labor, lower productivity at work, and criminal justice needs – cost the American economy close to $249 billion each year. Over $100 billion of the amount is paid for by the federal and state governments, primarily through Medicaid and Medicare payments.
Shift in Drinking Habits
While the booze industry continues to remain strong, health and fitness risks associated with drinking have resulted in a noticeable shift in alcohol consumption behavior – both in the US and globally – driven by Millennials and Generation Z who have become more conscious about the drinks they consume. There has been an increase in demand for low and no-alcohol beverages, and several companies are jumping on the bandwagon and producing drinks with all of the taste, but those that are low on or without alcohol.
One such company is Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) which launched Budweiser Zero in 2022. This new zero-alcohol beverage was the company’s first non-alcoholic beer, which offered a full flavor of the brew to enthusiasts who wanted to enjoy the beer, but without alcohol. The drink became a major sponsor during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Arab country had announced a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in all eight of its football stadiums and restricted them only to private hospitality boxes and fan zones away from the stadium.
That left football fans in Qatar’s stadiums with only one choice of beer – Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD)’s Budweiser Zero, which is not only non-alcoholic but also sugar-free. According to multiple reports, the company paid FIFA $75 million for sponsorship during the mega event. The brewing giants also recently secured sponsorship for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
That said, alcoholic beverages remain the strong suit for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), and Insider Monkey recently listed the company as one of the best alcohol stocks to buy now. During the second quarter of 2024, the company reported a revenue of $15.33 billion, which was 1.4% higher compared to the same period in 2023. EPS for the quarter was recorded at $0.90, up 25% from last year. The management owed these strong results to its megabrands that led to growth and increased market share in different global markets. You can read about other top-performing stocks in the industry by heading over to Beer Loses Fizz as Spirits Gain Popularity: Top 10 Stocks to Buy.
While we acknowledge the potential of BUD as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BUD but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
Pixabay/Public Domain
Methodology
We have picked counties in each state with the highest rate of excessive drinking among adults to rank the 50 drunkest counties in every state in the US. These counties are listed in ascending order of their excessive drinking rates. In cases where two or more counties had the same rates of excessive drinking, we resorted to using their percentage of driving deaths with alcohol involvement as a tiebreaker. In rare cases where they remained tied, we outranked the county having a higher population because that meant a large population of drunk people. Data for this article has been sourced from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps and is for the year 2023.
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Let’s now head over to the list of the drunkest counties in every state in the US.
50 Drunkest Counties in Every State in the US:
50. Summit County, Utah
Excessive Drinking Rate: 15%
Summit is a mountainous county in the state of Utah, with a population of around 42,000 residents. It has an excessive drinking rate of 15%.
49. Preston County, West Virginia
Excessive Drinking Rate: 15%
Preston is the drunkest county in West Virginia with an excessive drinking rate of 15%. Half of all accident-related deaths in the county are linked to drunk driving.
48. Ellis County, Oklahoma
Excessive Drinking Rate: 16%
Ellis County is the fifth least populous county in Oklahoma, with a population of close to 4,000 people. It has the highest rate of heavy drinking in the state.
47. Sandoval County, New Mexico
Excessive Drinking Rate: 18%
Sandoval is the drunkest county in New Mexico, with an excessive drinking rate of 18%. 36 alcohol-impaired driving deaths were reported in the county in 2023.
46. Harrison County, Mississippi
Excessive Drinking Rate: 19%
Mississippi has an excessive drinking rate of 16%. In Harrison County, it is reported at 19%, making it the drunkest county in the state. It is followed by Jackson County at 18%.
45. New Castle County, Delaware
Excessive Drinking Rate: 19%
New Castle is the drunkest county in the state of Delaware, with an excessive drinking rate of 19%. Around 23% of all accident-related deaths in the county are alcohol-influenced.
44. Williamson County, Tennessee
Excessive Drinking Rate: 19%
Williamson is the wealthiest county in Tennessee and is also its drunkest with a 19% excess drinking rate. There were 85 deaths caused by accidents in Williamson County in 2023; of them, 21 were alcohol-impaired.
43. Baldwin County, Alabama
Excessive Drinking Rate: 19%
Baldwin has an excessive drinking rate of 19%, which is three percentage points higher than Alabama’s state average of 16%, making it the drunkest county in the state.
42. Cleburne County, Arkansas
Excessive Drinking Rate: 19%
Cleburne is a county in Arkansas with a population above 24,000 people. According to the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, the county has an excessive drinking rate of 19% among adults.
41. Piatt County, Illinois
Excessive Drinking Rate: 19%
A staggering 64% of all accident-related deaths in Piatt County are linked to drunk driving. With an excessive drinking rate of 19%, it is the drunkest county in the state of Illinois.
40. Pickens County, Georgia
Excessive Drinking Rate: 20%
One-fifth of the adult population in Pickens County indulge in excessive drinking, making it the drunkest county in Georgia.
39. Hancock County, Indiana
Excessive Drinking Rate: 20%
Six counties in Indiana, including Hancock, Dubois, Montgomery, Monroe, Morgan, and Spencer have a high excessive drinking rate of 20%. Hancock edges out the rest as it has a higher drunk driving rate of 27%. The county has a population of 83,000 residents.
38. Kenton County, Kentucky
Excessive Drinking Rate: 20%
Kenton County in Kentucky has a population of approximately 172,000 residents. It is the drunkest county in the state with an excessive drinking rate of 20%.
37. Arlington County, Virginia
Excessive Drinking Rate: 21%
Arlington is the drunkest county in the state of Virginia, with over one-fifth of the population being excessive drinkers. Around 30% of accident-related deaths in the county in 2023 were influenced by drunk driving.
36. Brunswick County, North Carolina
Excessive Drinking Rate: 21%
Brunswick is the southernmost county in North Carolina and is the drunkest county in the state with an excessive drinking rate of 21%.
35. Blaine County, Idaho
Excessive Drinking Rate: 21%
Blaine County has an excessive drinking rate of 21%, which is substantially higher than the state average of 17%. It is the drunkest county in Idaho, followed by Nez Perce, Latah, Clearwater, and Ada at 20% each.
34. Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Excessive Drinking Rate: 21%
An estimated 41% of all deaths caused by accidents in Wabaunsee County in 2023 were linked to drunk driving. It is the drunkest county in the state of Kansas.
33. Talbot County, Maryland
Excessive Drinking Rate: 21%
The Talbot County in Maryland has a population of over 37,500. Around 21% of the adults in the county indulge in heavy drinking, according to a 2023 report by the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.
32. Mohave County, Arizona
Excessive Drinking Rate: 22%
Arizona has an excessive drinking rate of 17%. The percentage is significantly higher in Mohave County, where an estimated 22% of the adult population drinks heavily, making it the drunkest county in the state.
31. Litchfield County, Connecticut
Excessive Drinking Rate: 22%
Litchfield is the drunkest county in Connecticut, with 22% of the adults reportedly heavy drinkers. Reportedly, 31 people lost their lives to drunk driving in the county last year.
30. Hawaii County, Hawaii
Excessive Drinking Rate: 22%
Hawaii County, also called the Big Island, is a county in the state of Hawaii with a population of over 200,000 people. It is the drunkest county in the state.
29. Medina County, Ohio
Excessive Drinking Rate: 22%
An estimated 19% of Ohio’s population indulges in excessive drinking; the share is even higher in Medina County, where the figure is reported at 22%.
28. Sublette County, Wyoming
Excessive Drinking Rate: 22%
Sublette is the drunkest county in Wyoming. Heavy drinking was the cause of 40% of all accident-related deaths in the county in 2023.
27. Skagway County, Alaska
Excessive Drinking Rate: 23%
Skagway is known for being a port for Alaska cruise ships. It only has a population of over 1,200 residents. The county has the highest excessive drinking rate in the state.
26. Whatcom County, Washington
Excessive Drinking Rate: 23%
Whatcom County in Washington is known for its breweries, bars, and pubs. It is the drunkest county in the state. Around 18 alcohol-related accident deaths were reported in Whatcom last year.
25. Deschutes County, Oregon
Excessive Drinking Rate: 23%
Deschutes has long had a drinking problem and is the drunkest county in Oregon, with 23% of the adults reportedly indulging in excessive drinking.
24. St. Charles County, Missouri
Excessive Drinking Rate: 23%
Missouri generally has a high rate of heavy drinking, recorded at 20% in 2023. The share is even higher in St. Charles County, where around 31% of all deaths caused by accidents last year were linked to drunk driving.
23. Knox County, Maine
Excessive Drinking Rate: 23%
Knox is the drunkest county in the state of Maine with an excessive drinking rate of 23%. It is closely followed by Lincoln at 22% in the second spot.
22. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Excessive Drinking Rate: 23%
Armstrong County in Pennsylvania has a population of around 64,000 people. It is the drunkest county in the state with a high rate of excessive drinking.
21. Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Excessive Drinking Rate: 23%
Last year, 109 accident-related deaths were reported in Rockingham County, of which 48 were caused by drunk driving. It is the drunkest county in New Hampshire.
20. Washington County, Rhode Island
Excessive Drinking Rate: 23%
Washington County has an excessive drinking rate of 23%, which is higher than Rhode Island’s state average of 20%.
19. Rensselaer County, New York
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Rensselaer County reported that 24% of its adult population drank excessively last year. It was considerably higher than New York’s state average, 18%. It beat Herkimer, which also has an excessive drinking rate of 24%, due to a higher percentage of alcohol-related accident deaths.
18. Sussex County, New Jersey
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Sussex leads New Jersey’s counties in drunkenness with an excessive drinking rate of 24%. Approximately 23% of all accident-related deaths in the county last year were caused by drunk driving.
17. Douglas County, Nevada
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Douglas is the drunkest county in Nevada, with an excessive drinking rate of 24%, which is substantially higher than the state average of 20%.
16. Bay County, Michigan
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
The Bay County in Michigan has a population of over 100,000 residents. It is the drunkest county in the state. Reportedly, 13 people died due to drunk driving in the county last year.
15. Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Lafourche Parish is home to the most excessive drinkers in the state of Louisiana, with an excessive drinking rate of 24%. It is followed by Allen, Ascension, Beauregard, Cameron, Lafayette, La Salle, Livingston, St. Tammany, and West Feliciana at joint second with 23%.
14. Amador County, California
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Amador is the drunkest county in California. It has a high prevalence of excessive drinking (24%) and alcohol-related driving deaths (35%).
13. Charleston County, South Carolina
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Around 24% of Charleston’s adults were reported as excessive drinkers, making it the drunkest county in South Carolina.
12. Loving County, Texas
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Excessive drinking rate for Texas was recorded at 19% in 2023. In Loving County, the rate is considerably higher, making it the drunkest county in the state.
11. Dukes County, Massachusetts
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Dukes County is the second most populous county in Massachusetts, with a population of over 26,000 people. It is the drunkest county in the state, with a high rate of excessive drinking.
10. Routt County, Colorado
Excessive Drinking Rate: 24%
Nearly one in four adults in Colorado’s Routt County indulge in excessive drinking, making it the drunkest county in the state.
9. Monroe County, Florida
Excessive Drinking Rate: 25%
Monroe County in Florida is the southernmost county in the United States having a population of nearly 83,000 residents as per the 2020 Census. It has an excessive drinking rate of 25%. According to reports, 17 people lost their lives due to drunk driving in the county last year.
8. Washington County, Vermont
Excessive Drinking Rate: 25%
Washington County is the drunkest county in the state of Vermont with an excessive drinking rate of 25%. It is followed by both Lamoille and Orange with rates of 24%, each.
7. Marshall County, South Dakota
Excessive Drinking Rate: 25%
Around 21% of the adults in South Dakota indulge in excessive drinking. In Marshall County, the rates are much higher at 25%, making it the drunkest county in the state.
6. Meeker County, Minnesota
Excessive Drinking Rate: 25%
Lake, Le Sueur, Meeker, and Winona counties all have a 25% excessive drinking rate among adults. However, Meeker has a higher prevalence of deaths by drunk driving, representing 47% of all road accident deaths in 2023.
5. Mercer County, North Dakota
Excessive Drinking Rate: 25%
Mercer County is the drunkest county in North Dakota, with one-fourth of its population reportedly involved in excessive drinking. This is two percentage points higher than the state average of 23%. Only two counties in North Dakota have an excessive drinking rate of under 20%.
4. Saunders County, Nebraska
Excessive Drinking Rate: 27%
Saunders County in Nebraska has a population of over 22,200 people. Of all the adults in the state, an estimated 27% indulge in heavy drinking, making it the drunkest county in Nebraska.
3. Dubuque County, Iowa
Excessive Drinking Rate: 27%
Around 27% of the adults in Iowa’s Dubuque County drink heavily. This is two percentage points higher than the state average of 25%. Dubuque beat Buchanan County, which also had a 27% excessive drinking rate, due to a higher share of driving deaths with alcohol involvement.
2. Sheridan County, Montana
Excessive Drinking Rate: 28%
Sheridan County is the drunkest county in Montana, with a high prevalence of excessive drinking, recorded at 28% in 2023. Montana’s state average is 24%. Drunk driving is one of the greatest threats to public safety in the county, where 67% of all deaths in road accidents last year were influenced by alcohol overdose.
1. Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
Excessive Drinking Rate: 29%
Ozaukee is the drunkest county in Wisconsin, with a high excessive drinking rate of 29%. According to reports, 35 people lost their lives in road accidents last year in the county; of them, 11 deaths were linked to drunk driving. Wisconsin’s state average was estimated at 26%. No county in the state included in its report by the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps had a heavy drinking rate of less than 25%.
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Disclosure: None. 50 Drunkest Counties in Every State in the US was originally published on Insider Monkey.
