Wisconsin is the drunkest state in America, again

Authored by abc7chicago.com and submitted by domino2064
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Wisconsin is the drunkest state in America, again

Wisconsin is the drunkest state in America, according to research conducted by 24/7 WallSt, utilizing data from Country Health Rankings. 25.2% of Wisconsin adults drink heavily, which is 6% more than the national average. 35% of fatal car accidents are alcohol-related, a daunting number that is 9% higher than the national average.

Coming in second is Iowa, where 24.6% of adults drink excessively. South Dakota, Montana, and North Dakota round out the top five spots.

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Adults who drink excessively: 24.4% (US rate: 19.8%)

Fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 36.1% - 5th highest (US rate: 26.6%)

Median household income: $59,533 - 18th lowest (US median: $65,712)

Fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 46.4% - the highest

Median household income: $57,153 - 11th lowest

Fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 41.4% - 2nd highest

Median household income: $64,577 - 20th highest

Health and Economic Costs of Excessive Drinking

The effects of drinking are numerous. Melinda Wenner Moyer asks herself, "Chardonnay, why do you fail me?" The writer recently explored a new term called " hangxiety," which describes the shame spiral one often experiences after a night of drinking, regardless of the number of drinks consumed.

"People sometimes use the word to describe the emotional plunge they feel after drinking that doesn't quite constitute a proper hangover," she says.

Hangovers can be brutal, but excessive drinking comes with additional side effects that are much more permanent.

In 2020, 11,654 people died in alcohol-impaired driving deaths. That number represents a 14% increase, according to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While all these deaths are preventable, it's important to note that not all deaths result from someone exceeding the legal limit. Two thousand forty-one people were killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of .01 to .07 - under the legal limit of intoxication in most states.

Heavy drinking might look glamorous on film and television, but it can have serious long-term consequences. Excessive drinking puts you at risk for alcohol poisoning, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancy, fetal alcohol syndrome, and suicide.

There are economic side effects as well. It is estimated that alcohol abuse costs $249 billion yearly in lost productivity, healthcare, and criminal justice expenses.

Which States Are The Least Drunk?

Given their more stringent laws on alcohol consumption, it should come as no surprise that Utah is the least drunk state in America, with only 11.9% of adults reporting excessive drinking. The percentage of fatal car accidents involving alcohol is 21.7%, lower than the national average but not the lowest among other car accidents across the country (Mississippi claimed the top spot).

Oklahoma, Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas round out the states that are considered the least drunk.

Adults who drink excessively: 14.5% (US rate: 19.8%)

Fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 26.8% - 20th lowest (US rate: 26.6%)

Median household income: $54,449 - 8th lowest (US median: $65,712)

Fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 25.9% - 17th lowest

Median household income: $51,734 - 5th lowest

Fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 26.1% - 18th lowest

Median household income: $48,850 - 2nd lowest

Fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 18.5% - the lowest

Median household income: $45,792 - the lowest

Fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 25.7% - 15th lowest

Median household income: $48,952 - 3rd lowest

Alcohol has left an indelible mark on culture, politics, and society. While its health effects can be numerous, a little moderation goes a long way, and maybe one day, that will catch on in Wisconsin, America's drunkest state.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Gen-Jinjur on February 18th, 2023 at 00:29 UTC »

I live in a rural Wisconsin town and our sheriff report his both hilarious and sad.

—Caller reports hitting a deer. —Caller says neighbor’s pigs are in his yard AGAIN. —Caller says driver weaving all over the road. —Caller reports she hit two deer. —Man sleeping in middle of highway given courtesy ride home. —Driver left Kwik Trip without paying for $6.00 gas. — Driver who struck a tree and three vehicles in custody. — Caller reports snowmobiles trespassing. — Caller reports drunk woman throwing rocks at cars.

Probably 2/3s of our actual crimes are due to booze.

SamCarter_SGC on February 17th, 2023 at 22:38 UTC »

25.2% of Wisconsin adults drink heavily, which is 6% more than the national average.

yeah now do percentage of Wisconsin adults who think a few beers every night is "light drinking"

dreadmouse on February 17th, 2023 at 22:20 UTC »

My impression of Wisconsin is that they would be rather proud of this.