This Is the Drunkest City in the US: Ranking America's Top 50 Cities

Special Report

Published: December 5, 2023 9:00 am

Wisconsin takes pride as the cheese capital of America, as well as in the success of its pro sports teams the Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Green Bay Packers. When it comes to drinking liquor, however, the state might be a bit sheepish about its standing as the alcohol-quaffing capital of the nation. No state has more drunker cities than Wisconsin.

To identify the U.S. metro areas with the highest excessive drinking rates, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the percentage of adults 18 and older who report binge or heavy drinking within a 30-day period across all 382 metro areas in the country. Data came from the 2023 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program.

Excessive drinking is defined as adults who reported heavy or binge drinking within the previous 30 days. Binge drinking is consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on a single occasion.

Midwestern and Plains cities occupy most of the 50 spots on our excessive-drinking list. Thirteen are Wisconsin cities, and nine of the 10 places that imbibe the most are in the Badger State (the outlier is Dubuque, Iowa.) The CDC tracked the prevalence of adults who reported binge drinking by state in 2021 and found that Wisconsin led the U.S. with 23.5% of adults reporting excessive-drinking behavior. (Also see the states with the highest rates of binge drinking.)

In a report by Wisconsin Public Radio, Julia Sherman, the coordinator for the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project in Wisconsin, discounted the state’s German heritage as a factor behind the excessive drinking and outlined other reasons. She said alcohol is sold in more places in Wisconsin than other states. The price of liquor has some of the lowest prices in the nation. Liquor is heavily advertised, particularly on public transit. And there is a cultural expectation in Wisconsin to drink.

Other Midwestern states with cities on our list for excessive drinking rates are Iowa (seven) and Minnesota (four).

Excessive drinking also has been associated with automobile accidents and fatalities, and Wisconsin cities have five of the 10 highest percentages of fatal car accidents involving alcohol. Billings, Montana, had the highest percentage of fatal car accidents involving liquor on our list with 44.2%.

Here are America’s drunkest cities.

1. Dubuque, Iowa

Dubuque Iowa (CC BY 2.0) by Dirk DBQ

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 27.40% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 19.40% — #342 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 98,677

2. Wausau-Weston, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 27.20% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 23.20% — #289 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 166,334

3. Madison, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 26.90% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 31.90% — #105 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 687,077

4. Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 26.80% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 37.80% — #30 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 173,644

5. Green Bay, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 26.80% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 37.60% — #33 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 330,292

6. La Crosse-Onalaska, Wisconsin-Minnesota

View from Grandad Bluff in La Crosse, Wisconsin 3 by Runner1928

View from Grandad Bluff in La Crosse, Wisconsin 3 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Runner1928

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 26.60% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 30.40% — #128 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 139,094

7. Oshkosh-Neenah, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 26.60% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 31.50% — #114 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 170,718

8. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 26.40% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 35.20% — #50 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 103,836

9. Appleton, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 26.00% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 37.50% — #34 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 244,845

10. Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 25.70% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 35.60% — #47 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 117,841

11. Racine, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 25.60% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 32.60% — #95 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 195,846

12. Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 25.60% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 28.00% — #184 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 1,559,792

13. Janesville-Beloit, Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 25.10% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 43.00% — #6 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 164,060

14. Missoula, Montana

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 24.90% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 34.30% — #61 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 121,041

15. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 24.80% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 22.10% — #309 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 167,889

16. Barnstable Town, Massachusetts

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 24.20% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 38.80% — #22 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 232,457

17. Duluth, Minnesota-Wisconsin

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 24.20% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 38.20% — #28 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 291,931

18. Lincoln, Nebraska

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 24.10% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 33.90% — #68 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 341,229

19. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 24.10% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 28.60% — #171 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 729,053

20. Bay City, Michigan

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 23.80% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 28.30% — #178 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 102,821

21. Ocean City, New Jersey

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 23.30% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 31.70% — #112 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 95,634

22. Billings, Montana

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 23.20% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 44.20% — #5 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 190,208

23. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, California

Old Santa Rosa Post Office, Downtown Santa Rosa,2 by Wulfnoth

Old Santa Rosa Post Office, Downtown Santa Rosa,2 (CC BY 3.0) by Wulfnoth

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 23.20% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 32.80% — #88 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 482,650

24. Bismarck, North Dakota

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 23.10% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 40.40% — #16 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 134,427

25. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 23.00% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 28.40% — #175 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 2,349,172

26. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 23.00% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 21.90% — #310 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 275,592

27. Bellingham, Washington

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.90% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 24.70% — #261 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 230,677

28. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, California

Entering San Luis Obispo Count... by Ken Lund

Entering San Luis Obispo Count... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.90% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 37.30% — #38 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 282,013

29. Ames, Iowa

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.80% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 27.80% — #192 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 126,282

30. Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska-Iowa

Nebraska | Omaha skyline and lake at Autumn

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.80% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 33.30% — #77 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 976,875

31. Fargo, North Dakota – Minnesota

Fargo, North Dakota (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.80% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 37.70% — #31 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 258,663

32. Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana

Drag in downtown Thibodaux by ian munroe

Drag in downtown Thibodaux (CC BY 2.0 DEED) by ian munroe

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.70% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 37.00% — #41 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 200,656

33. Reno, Nevada

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.60% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 37.10% — #39 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 501,206

34. Iowa City, Iowa

Downtown Iowa City, IA (CC BY 2.0 DEED) by Alan Light

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.60% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 27.30% — #203 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 178,991

35. Bend, Oregon

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.60% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 27.00% — #210 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 206,549

36. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.50% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 18.80% — #349 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 106,027

37. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.40% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 30.90% — #118 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 264,370

38. Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.30% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 20.60% — #324 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 127,859

39. Glens Falls, New York

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.30% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 19.60% — #334 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 126,440

40. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York

Troy, New York (CC BY 2.0) by Tony Fischer

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.30% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 20.50% — #325 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 904,617

41. Lafayette, Louisiana

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.30% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 29.70% — #150 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 481,125

42. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.30% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 22.50% — #304 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 220,816

43. St. Cloud, Minnesota

Downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota by GPA Photo Archive

Downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota (CC BY 2.0) by GPA Photo Archive

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.20% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 27.40% — #200 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 201,868

44. Bloomsburg-Berwick, Pennsylvania

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.20% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 16.00% — #367 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 83,017

45. Fort Collins, Colorado

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.20% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 33.30% — #77 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 366,778

46. Altoona, Pennsylvania

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.10% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 18.30% — #353 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 121,032

47. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.10% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 35.10% — #52 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 873,060

48. Lansing-East Lansing, Michigan

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.10% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 29.90% — #146 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 540,870

49. Lake Charles, Louisiana

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.00% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 33.80% — #69 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 206,636

50. New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana

Pct. of adults who drink excessively: 22.00% (US rate: 18.9%)
Pct. of fatal car accidents involving alcohol: 30.00% — #145 out of 387 metros (US rate: 26.5%)
Metro area population: 1,246,176

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Read more: Special Report, alcohol, auto accidents, binge drinking, cancer, deaths, excessive drinking, Far West, heart disease, Midwest, Obesity, Places

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