Excessive alcohol consumption is a national concern, and if the national problem has a ground zero, it is Wisconsin. Binge drinking is as much a part of the state culture as cheese, the Green Bay Packers, and ice fishing.
Using the most recent data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a joint program between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, 24/7 Tempo identified the U.S. counties with the highest excessive drinking rates. Additional information on the share of driving deaths with alcohol involvement also from the 2023 CHR.Population estimates are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.
Excessive drinking is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as adults who reported heavy or binge drinking within the prior 30 days. Binge drinking is consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on one occasion. Of the 50 counties in the U.S. whose adults reach that threshold, Wisconsin is represented by 42.