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Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix
Forbes.com has put together a list of America’s Drunkest Cities. Some interesting facts from the list:
- The top 5:
1) Milwaukee, WI
2) Minneapolis, MN
3) Columbus, OH
4) Boston, MA
5) Austin, TX - The rankings were based on a combination of 5 factors: state laws, number of drinkers, number heavy drinkers, number of binge drinkers and alcoholics.
- Many cities that you’d think would rank highly were surprisingly low on the list: Las Vegas at 14, New Orleans at 24 and Miami at 33.
- 22% of Milwaukeeans admitted to binge drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion) in the last 30 days - the highest on the list.
- The rankings can actually be a bit skewed by what the article described as “grandmas who imbibe a glass of wine every night to keep their heart healthy.”
In Birmingham, Alabama, we may not be as drunk as the rest of y’all, but we sure vote as if we were!
posted by John Dahle on 11-21-2006 at 7:17 pm
There must be some information out there about the ratio of bars to churches in these cities.
A friend of mine from Watertown, WI (40 miles W of Milwaukee) told me that they had the highest bar to church ratio, but I have yet to confirm it.
posted by Stephen on 11-21-2006 at 7:28 pm
Part of me is still amused the definition of binge drinking is 5 drinks in a sitting. Maybe it’s just because I’m in college, but having 5 beers is not unusual around here. The most ridiculous stories involve drinks in the double digits. Dangerous? Of course. But 5 beers sounds tame compared to stories about 13 shots of whiskey, half a handle of vodka, or an unknown amount of tequila….
posted by Kate on 11-21-2006 at 11:44 pm
Having been tooted on many an occasion in Austin, I can safely say that it has more than earned it’s ranking….
And as far as binge drinking goes, I’m curious as to what they consider an “occasion”. (As in binge drinking is more than 5 drinks an occasion.) If it’s over the course of a long night, sure, that’s not too bad. But considering one beer is equal to one 1.5 oz shot of liquor, that’s a bit much.
And if it’s 5 American beers (other than Shiner,) well that’s just a waste of time….
posted by Lyssa on 11-22-2006 at 10:39 am
Sorry, that second paragraph should have read “But considering one beer is equal to one 1.5 oz shot of liquor, if it’s 5 beers over a two or three hour stint at the bar, that’s a bit much.”
**Disclaimer: That post screw-up was completely the fault of the author and not alcohol induced in any way, shape or form.
posted by Lyssa on 11-22-2006 at 10:42 am
Columbus, Ohio? Wow. Must be skewed by the omniprescience of THE Ohio State University. Seriously, I’m not kidding. We may also be tops in cities who’s primary form of entertainment is new restaurants. Again, I’m not kidding: just check the waistlines around here!!
posted by creesto on 11-22-2006 at 12:59 pm
Atlanta would have ranked much higher if the study had taken into account all the stranded travelers drinking in Hartsfield airport.
posted by Becky on 11-22-2006 at 1:36 pm
I have a city to add to that list.
The Municipality of Amanda’s Bedroom
1st room on the left
5671 Brenners Pl.
Memphis, TN
38134
posted by Amanda on 12-13-2006 at 12:32 am
Our town probably didn’t make the list because we’re not a metropolis, but we even have T-shirts that say “Athens, GA: A drinking town with a football problem.” There are roughly 50 bars downtown at any given moment, and another 200 or so restaurants with liquor licenses. That’s a lot for a town with about 100,000 residents.
Georgia’s archaic blue laws also keep us out of the top, and our numbers are slightly inflated due to the fact that the neighboring Oconee county is dry.
posted by Cathy on 9-12-2007 at 8:19 am