The States That Drink the Most Alcohol in America (2022) [Map] (2024)

This article was one of our most popular stories of 2023. See how much your state drinks and how it stacks up against the rest!

Americans love their alcohol. According to data published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, U.S. residents’ consumption of alcoholic beverages has been on a steady incline since 1995, with a whopping 7.9 billion gallons consumed in 2020. That marks a 1 million-plus increase in gallons drunk from the previous year, likely thanks to the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of the 7.9 billion gallons consumed by Americans in 2020, beer was the overwhelming favorite — with an estimated 6.4 billion gallons drunk — followed by wine and spirits, of which Americans enjoyed 931 million and 635 million gallons, respectively. While it’s clear the pandemic had an impact on the volume of alcohol consumed by Americans, it also had an impact on what kinds of alcohol Americans reached for. In 2020, domestic consumption of spirits increased by almost 46 million gallons from 2019. In comparison, wine consumption increased by 22 million gallons, while beer consumption saw little to no change.

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The States That Drink the Most Alcohol Per Capita

Of the 50 states and Washington D.C., New Hampshire reports the most booze drunk per capita, with approximately 4.83 gallons consumed per year. However, it’s important to note that due to the state’s lack of sales tax, a number of these gallons are consumed by folks from neighboring states who cross over into New Hampshire to take advantage of cheaper prices. The small New England state also enjoys the most beer and spirits per capita, while Washington, D.C., consumes the most wine. Predictably, Utah — the state with the strictest booze laws in America — consumes the least amount of alcohol per capita (1.36 gallons).

The States That Drink the Most Alcohol in Ethanol

Unsurprisingly, the most densely populated states in the U.S. consume the most alcohol by volume. California leads the pack with 85.7 million gallons consumed in 2020. Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois round out the remainder of the top five. Conversely, Wyoming, Alaska, and South Dakota consume the least.

Ranking the States

Gallons Per Capita

Rank	State	Gallons of Ethanol Per Capita*
1	New Hampshire	4.83
2	Delaware	4.01
3	Washington D.C.	3.79
4	Nevada	3.43
5	Montana	3.32
6	North Dakota	3.26
7	Vermont	3.22
8	Wisconsin	3.11
9	Maine	2.99
10	Colorado	2.97
11	Wyoming	2.94
12	Minnesota	2.85
13	Alaska	2.83
14	Florida	2.74
15	Hawaii	2.71
16	Oregon	2.71
17	Rhode Island	2.71
18	Missouri	2.68
19	California	2.63
20	New Jersey	2.63
21	Massachusetts	2.62
22	Louisiana	2.59
23	Michigan	2.53
24	Connecticut	2.50
25	Illinois	2.42
26	Texas	2.41
27	Mississippi	2.39
28	Indiana	2.34
29	Iowa	2.34
30	South Dakota	2.34
31	Pennsylvania	2.32
32	North Carolina	2.31
33	New Mexico	2.30
34	Tennessee	2.30
35	Virginia	2.27
36	Washington	2.26
37	Arizona	2.24
38	New York	2.22
39	Nebraska	2.17
40	Maryland	2.15
41	Kansas	2.12
42	Kentucky	2.12
43	Ohio	2.12
44	South Carolina	2.12
45	Idaho	2.10
46	Alabama	2.08
47	Arkansas	1.92
48	Georgia	1.91
49	Oklahoma	1.85
50	West Virginia	1.82
51	Utah	1.36

Gallons Overall

Rank	State	Gallons Overall*
1	California	85.7M
2	Texas	56.9M
3	Florida	50.4M
4	New York	36M
5	Illinois	25.3M
6	Pennsylvania	25M
7	Michigan	21M
8	Ohio	20.6M
9	North Carolina	20.4M
10	New Jersey	19.4M
11	Georgia	16.7M
12	Virginia	16.2M
13	Massachusetts	15.9M
14	Wisconsin	15.1M
15	Washington	14.4M
16	Colorado	14.3M
17	Arizona	13.7M
18	Missouri	13.6M
19	Minnesota	13.2M
20	Tennessee	13.1M
21	Indiana	12.9M
22	Maryland	10.7M
23	Louisiana	9.8M
24	Oregon	9.6M
25	South Carolina	9.2M
26	Nevada	8.9M
27	Alabama	8.4M
28	Kentucky	7.8M
29	Connecticut	7.5M
30	Iowa	6.5M
31	Oklahoma	6M
32	Mississippi	5.8M
33	New Hampshire	5.6M
34	Kansas	5M
35	Arkansas	4.7M
36	New Mexico	4M
37	Maine	3.4M
38	Utah	3.4M
39	Nebraska	3.3M
40	Delaware	3.3M
41	Hawaii	3.1M
42	Idaho	3.1M
43	Montana	3M
44	West Virginia	2.7M
45	Rhode Island	2.4M
46	Washington D.C.	2.2M
47	North Dakota	2M
48	Vermont	1.7M
49	South Dakota	1.6M
50	Alaska	1.6M
51	Wyoming	1.4M

*This data uses an estimate of average ethanol content of sold or shipped spirits into gallons of ethanol (pure alcohol) before calculating per capita consumption estimates. For this data, the alcohol by volume value is 0.129 for wine, 0.045 for beer, and 0.411 for spirits.

*Photo sourced from romanovad – stock.adobe.com

Published: January 30, 2023

I'm a seasoned enthusiast with a profound understanding of alcohol consumption trends in the United States, backed by a comprehensive knowledge of statistical data and sociocultural factors. My expertise is not merely theoretical; it extends to a hands-on familiarity with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's research and its implications on American drinking habits.

Now, diving into the details of the article, it's evident that the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism serves as a pivotal source for the data presented. The article highlights a substantial increase in alcohol consumption in the U.S. since 1995, reaching a staggering 7.9 billion gallons in 2020, attributing this surge, in part, to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Breaking down the types of alcoholic beverages, beer emerges as the predominant choice, accounting for approximately 6.4 billion gallons in 2020. Wine and spirits follow, with 931 million and 635 million gallons, respectively. The impact of the pandemic is further underscored by shifts in preferences, with a notable increase in domestic spirit consumption by almost 46 million gallons in 2020.

Regional disparities in alcohol consumption are also highlighted, with the West Coast claiming the title of the booziest region in the U.S. at an annual per capita consumption of 2.56 gallons. Interestingly, while the South records the highest overall alcohol consumption by volume (245.1 million gallons in 2020), it paradoxically ranks as the region with the lowest per capita consumption at 2.34 gallons per year.

For a more granular understanding, the article delves into state-level statistics, revealing that New Hampshire leads the pack in alcohol consumption per capita at approximately 4.83 gallons per year. Notably, the absence of sales tax in New Hampshire influences these figures, as residents from neighboring states seek cheaper prices, contributing to higher reported consumption.

Additionally, the article categorizes states based on their alcohol consumption in ethanol, with California topping the list at 85.7 million gallons in 2020. The densely populated states, including Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois, round out the top five in overall alcohol consumption.

In conclusion, the data presented in this article provides a comprehensive overview of alcohol consumption trends in the U.S., incorporating regional and state-level nuances. It not only sheds light on the sheer volume of alcohol consumed but also captures the evolving preferences and behaviors of Americans, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.