New research from the University of Wisconsin has found that the states and counties in the US have the most problems with binge drinking.
According to the university’s Population Health Institute, Wisconsin has the highest percentage of residents who drink excessively, more than one-fourth or 26 percent.
To calculate the numbers, the university examined both binge drinking (four or more drinks on one occasion for women, five or more for men) and heavy drinking (eight or more drinks per week for women, 15 or more for men).
A total of 19 states reported that 20 percent of residents or more are excessive drinkers.
By comparison, only five states have rates equal to or lower than 15 percent.
So, do you think you know which states have the most and least problematic drinking habits?
Scroll down to see if you’re right.
New research from the University of Wisconsin has found that the states and counties in the US have the most problems with binge drinking
According to the university’s Population Health Institute, Wisconsin has the highest percentage of residents who drink excessively, more than one-fourth or 26 percent
To calculate the numbers, the university examined both binge drinking (four or more drinks on one occasion for women, five or more for men) and heavy drinking (eight or more drinks per week for women, 15 or more for men).
Just behind Wisconsin is Iowa at a whopping 25 percent, followed by Montana at 24 percent and North Dakota and Nebraska, both at 23 percent.
According to the study, Utah is the state with the lowest rate of excessive drinkers, with only 12 percent of residents reporting binge eating.
Broken down by county, only 13 of Utah’s 29 counties have a rate of 13 percent or more that binge drinking.
Utah County, with a Mormon population of 72 percent, came in on the alcohol maps at just 8 percent. Those in the church do not drink alcohol.
Eight percent is a shocking number compared to many of Wisconsin’s counties, which reported that more than a fourth of residents are binge drinkers.
All 72 counties in Badger state have a binge drinking rate equal to or greater than 25 percent, with some counties reaching nearly a third.
Ozaukee and Columbia counties share a 29 percent binge drinking rate, with more than a dozen counties sharing a 28 percent rate.
Just behind Wisconsin is Iowa at a whopping 25 percent, followed by Montana at 24 percent, and North Dakota and Nebraska, both at 23 percent
Iowa (pictured left) and Montana (pictured right) were the number two and number three state for residents drinking excessively at 25 and 24 percent, respectively
The last five places in the top ten are filled by Louisiana, Vermont and Minnesota with 22 percent and South Dakota and Pennsylvania with 21 percent of the population.
Next to Utah, Oklahoma and West Virginia (14%), Illinois and Maryland (15%), and Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia (16%) are among the lowest states.
In addition to examining excessive drinking habits in the US, researchers at the University of Wisconsin looked at alcohol-related deaths.
Despite an 18 percent rate of excessive drinkers, California had the highest number of alcohol-related deaths between 2016 and 2020.
Overall, Montana had the highest rate of road deaths attributed to alcohol, accounting for a whopping 46 percent of crashes.
The state reported that nearly a quarter of all residents drink to excess.
Just behind Montana was North Dakota at 41 percent.
At the other end of the spectrum, Kansas, Mississippi and Indiana reported the lowest percentage of alcohol-related deaths, at just 19 percent.
According to the study, Utah is the state with the lowest rate of excessive drinkers, with only 12 percent of residents reporting binge eating
Next to Utah, Oklahoma (pictured left) and West Virginia (pictured right) are among the lowest states at 14 percent each
In their published work, the University of Wisconsin researchers noted that the study is important because of the high rate of alcohol-related deaths in the US.
“When consumed in excess, alcohol is detrimental to the health and well-being of those who drink, as well as their families, friends and communities,” researchers wrote.
The work echoes the sentiments of a new paper in the Journal of American Medicine that found more Americans are dying from alcohol-related deaths.
According to CDC data, the rate increased 12.5 percent for men between 2018 and 2020. That number increased by 15 percent in the same time frame for women.