Mapping the Booze Belt

Richard Florida takes a look at new information out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that identifies binge drinking rates by state.

1 minute read

January 21, 2012, 7:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"Lots of Americans binge drink," says Florida and the CDC. That may not surprise you, but the geographic patterns of binge drinkers may.

"There is something of a binge drinking belt across the north of the country, running westward from New England, Pennsylvania and Ohio to Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Montana. Alaska ranks high too, suggesting that long, cold winters might play a role, though tropical Hawaii is in the top tier as well."

Some other interesting demographic correlations (not necessarily causes) exist. High binge drinking states tend to be liberal, extroverted (big surprise!), educated, and affluent.

Thursday, January 19, 2012 in The Atlantic Cities

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