America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

My apoligies if this has been posted before, but this is essential reading:

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/2006..._0822intro.html

The Top 10:

1 of 35. Milwaukee, WI
2. Minnapolis, MN
3. Columbus, OH
4. Boston, MA
5. Austin, TX
6. Chicago, IL (yeah bitches!)
7. Cleveland, OH
8. Pittsburgh, PA
9. Philadelphia, PA
9(tie). Providence, RI
...
12. Seattle
14. Las Vegas
20(tie). SFO
20(tie). DC
23. Los Angeles
32. New York
33. Miami
35. Nashville

I can confirm from personal experience that Milwaukee revolves around drinking. Everyone I've ever met from Wisconsin, including my maternal grandmother, is a heavy drinker.

Chicago is very much a work hard, play hard city and its place on this list is no surprise.

Things that seem to be associated with heavy drinking:

1. A high % of colleges (no surprise)
2. A high % of white people
3. A depressing, northerly location
4. A concentrated urban area that deters drinking and driving (Milwaukee, sadly, is an exception.)

I'm surprised that New York is near the bottom, but I suspect this has to do with the large immigrant population; few cultures are as tolerant of drinking as European Americans. Or maybe everyone's just too fricking busy to drink. In any event, you NYC guys have some catching up to do.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

Makes me proud to inhabit the cold miserable alcoholic stretches of our great nation.

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If I were from the north I'd probably drink a lot too, to relieve my depression at my lot in life

As it is, I drink a lot to celebrate my lot in life

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Yea Boston makes a lot of sense to me, as does Chicago, Providence actually surprises me, although if I remember correctly I recently read that Rhode Island had like the highest ratio of DUI's in the country.

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"2. A high % of white people"

youve never been to cleveland.

also, we got no public transport.

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I grew up in a small Volga German community where the per capita alchohol consumption was the one of the highest in the US. The amount of liquor stores and bars is still massive for a small town. Every year they closed the college for Oktoberfest. The mayor tapped the keg to begin the festivities. Damn those old Germans loved to drink, polka dance, and throw horseshoes. Sadly, there aren't too many around anymore, though it is still a very heavy drinking area and they still have the fest.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

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Yea Boston makes a lot of sense to me, as does Chicago, Providence actually surprises me, although if I remember correctly I recently read that Rhode Island had like the highest ratio of DUI's in the country.

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Providence has a lot of colleges. About 36,000 college kids between Brown, RSDI, Providence College, Johnson & Wales, and Rhode Island College. In a city of 173K.

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Hey, I'm from Columbus and have close family in Minneapolis and Winsconsin...

I'm surprised Columbus is so high on the list, although I'm sure it's due to The Ohio State University.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

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In any event, you NYC guys have some catching up to do.

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I'm doing my part. You're one to talk, you turned down that triple Amaretto I tried to order you in Vegas...

NT

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w00t!

I have lived in Milwaukee for the last 9 years. This thread made me proud!!!

I can't begin to estimate what my annual alcohol spending must be.

It seems as though there are entire families that are alcholic in wisconsin. A couple friends come to mind. Maybe it's just in our blood...

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

Nate,

Do you live in Chicago or are you from this neck of the woods?

Regardless, you probably know that this town has some very fine drinking establishments, including two of the top bars in the U.S. for beer drinking as voted by readers of Beer Advocate.

Map Room came in third and Hopleaf ranked 21.


I was up in Milwaukee last weekend, right before this list was published. While tailgating at Miller Park (home of the Brewers), I was offered a beer about every ten minutes.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

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Hey, I'm from Columbus and have close family in Minneapolis and Winsconsin...

I'm surprised Columbus is so high on the list, although I'm sure it's due to The Ohio State University.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rest assured that if East Lansing or Ann Arbor were large enough to make the list, you guys would be no higher than #5.

The drunkest little city in America though is almost certainly Madison, Wisconsin, where about half the student union is devoted to bar and patio space.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hey, I'm from Columbus and have close family in Minneapolis and Winsconsin...

I'm surprised Columbus is so high on the list, although I'm sure it's due to The Ohio State University.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rest assured that if East Lansing or Ann Arbor were large enough to make the list, you guys would be no higher than #5.

The drunkest little city in America though is almost certainly Madison, Wisconsin, where about half the student union is devoted to bar and patio space.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the late AA recognition. I knew I made yet another run (walk) to the liquor store 25 mins ago for a reason. That said, the only real consumption around here is panhandlers from Ypsi.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

[ QUOTE ]
Nate,

Do you live in Chicago or are you from this neck of the woods?

Regardless, you probably know that this town has some very fine drinking establishments, including two of the top bars in the U.S. for beer drinking as voted by readers of Beer Advocate.

Map Room came in third and Hopleaf ranked 21.


I was up in Milwaukee last weekend, right before this list was published. While tailgating at Miller Park (home of the Brewers), I was offered a beer about every ten minutes.

[/ QUOTE ]

I live in Chicago. The Ontario thing is an old joke from Andrew Karpinski's heydey. We have a lot of really cool bars here; goes with the whole neighborhood thing.

In a previous life, I did some consulting work for a large Milwaukee-based industrial firm. These were mild-mannered people, but a typical night out might feature six or seven beers at Miller Park, some drunken driving, a drink or two on Water St., some more drunken driving, and then hanging out at the client's house until two in the morning for even more drinking. And then a 6 AM meeting the next day.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hey, I'm from Columbus and have close family in Minneapolis and Winsconsin...

I'm surprised Columbus is so high on the list, although I'm sure it's due to The Ohio State University.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rest assured that if East Lansing or Ann Arbor were large enough to make the list, you guys would be no higher than #5.

The drunkest little city in America though is almost certainly Madison, Wisconsin, where about half the student union is devoted to bar and patio space.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the late AA recognition. I knew I made yet another run (walk) to the liquor store 25 mins ago for a reason. That said, the only real consumption around here is panhandlers from Ypsi.

[/ QUOTE ]

The only issue with Ann Arbor is that the high percentage of pot smoking probably trades off with drinking to a certain extent. This is probably also true of Boulder, Colorado.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hey, I'm from Columbus and have close family in Minneapolis and Winsconsin...

I'm surprised Columbus is so high on the list, although I'm sure it's due to The Ohio State University.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rest assured that if East Lansing or Ann Arbor were large enough to make the list, you guys would be no higher than #5.

The drunkest little city in America though is almost certainly Madison, Wisconsin, where about half the student union is devoted to bar and patio space.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have visited Madison a few times and it's always a great time. Of course, you quickly realize why people drink so much there. Gotta get those beer goggles on if you want to take home a "hot" girl.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

Always wanted to visit Madison. Another one too small to make the list but deserving is Lawrence, KS. Massive party town, especially during March madness. Also home of the nations best strip clubs.

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yea madison is pretty nuts I live in boston and go to school in madison and I would have to say everything in wisconsin revolves around beer. If you are with a parent you can go into bars and drink as much as you want even if you are 21, not sure if it is a law but it happens. Boston is pretty strict with their drinking and underage people at bars most places but the amount of college parties probably eclipse that fact.

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Nate,

Do you live in Chicago or are you from this neck of the woods?

Regardless, you probably know that this town has some very fine drinking establishments, including two of the top bars in the U.S. for beer drinking as voted by readers of Beer Advocate.

Map Room came in third and Hopleaf ranked 21.


I was up in Milwaukee last weekend, right before this list was published. While tailgating at Miller Park (home of the Brewers), I was offered a beer about every ten minutes.

[/ QUOTE ]

I live in Chicago. The Ontario thing is an old joke from Andrew Karpinski's heydey. We have a lot of really cool bars here; goes with the whole neighborhood thing.

In a previous life, I did some consulting work for a large Milwaukee-based industrial firm. These were mild-mannered people, but a typical night out might feature six or seven beers at Miller Park, some drunken driving, a drink or two on Water St., some more drunken driving, and then hanging out at the client's house until two in the morning for even more drinking. And then a 6 AM meeting the next day.

[/ QUOTE ]

I grew up in Milwaukee, and it really is a weird city. It has things about it that are so great; the college and professional sports teams, one of the biggest annual music festivals in the country in summerfest, one of the best zoos in the country, great museum, wonderful nightlife. And then it has some stuff about it like the high level of drunkenness and consistently having a top 10 murder rate in the country that don't exactly look great to outsiders.

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I live in Columbus. I'm a drunk. All my friends are drunks. Most everyone that I know is a drunk. We really are a drinking city with a football problem.

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1. A high % of colleges (no surprise)


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True, but the weird thing is what % of college students are of legal drinking age? I would say about 25-30% of undergrads, maybe less. The freshmen-juniors should be mainly 18-20. This proves that -- thankfully for many people -- fake IDs work, security is not a big problem, underage drinking is encouraged and tolerated, and young people drink even more than old people!

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My uncle lives in Milwaukee and works for GE. They have a bar at their workplace and they can drink while on break.

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Fake IDs are for girls trying to get into clubs. The stores/gas stations around tOSU campus are very strict about IDing.

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I'm happy to say that Minneapolis would have ranked 5th if it weren't for me and my friends.

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I traded up.

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this list is [censored], where is new orleans??

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i grew up 20 min from milwaukee, and now live in the Twin Cities. you do the math.

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this list is [censored], where is new orleans??

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I think it was like #17 or something. Keep in mind that this study focuses on permanent residents; obviously visitors to Vegas or NO are going to do a lot of drinking.

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thseis kkrap about wisconin beingsest the drinkest school is just a viscous sterotype, petuated by other stat skools lick berkly and the wolverins tryin to put su down. If anytings, we should be nown for are frist classs ackedemics.

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Yea Boston makes a lot of sense to me, as does Chicago, Providence actually surprises me, although if I remember correctly I recently read that Rhode Island had like the highest ratio of DUI's in the country.

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Providence has a lot of colleges. About 36,000 college kids between Brown, RSDI, Providence College, Johnson & Wales, and Rhode Island College. In a city of 173K.

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In addition to the student population, for a while it was pretty economically depressed and not the happiest place to be on earth. It doesn't surprise me at all.

As for Milwaukee, I've always heard good things about that place. Glad it's been confirmed.

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this list is [censored], where is new orleans??

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Curiously, several towns with a reputation for partying and drinking didn't rank very high on the list. You might be able to score a free cocktail in any Las Vegas casino, but overall, the city comes in at only No. 14. New Orleans is home to Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras, but it only ranked in 24th place. And spring-break party spot Miami placed all the way down at No. 33 of 35.

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So true. Midwestern life revolves around beer. I'm also a little perturbed by how acceptable drunk driving is in the small towns around here.

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Milwaukee isn't even the drinki-est place in the state. Madison is still technically in Wisconsin, isn't it?

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

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I grew up in a small Volga German community where the per capita alchohol consumption was the one of the highest in the US. The amount of liquor stores and bars is still massive for a small town. Every year they closed the college for Oktoberfest. The mayor tapped the keg to begin the festivities. Damn those old Germans loved to drink, polka dance, and throw horseshoes. Sadly, there aren't too many around anymore, though it is still a very heavy drinking area and they still have the fest.

[/ QUOTE ]

Go Tigers!!

Re: America\'s Drunkest Cities
 

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[ QUOTE ]
I grew up in a small Volga German community where the per capita alchohol consumption was the one of the highest in the US. The amount of liquor stores and bars is still massive for a small town. Every year they closed the college for Oktoberfest. The mayor tapped the keg to begin the festivities. Damn those old Germans loved to drink, polka dance, and throw horseshoes. Sadly, there aren't too many around anymore, though it is still a very heavy drinking area and they still have the fest.

[/ QUOTE ]

Go Tigers!!

[/ QUOTE ]
ha, you nailed it

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Wisconsin is unbelievable, everyone I know from there is a heavy drinker or an alcoholic. Also if this was per capita Superior, Wisconsin would probably be number one on this list, anyone that has been there would probably agree.

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if only Boston bars were open past 2am (or 1 in some places) we would be #1!!

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Nashville last? WTF!

I'm doing my part around here, some of you other lazy [censored] need to pick up the slack!

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Wisconsin is unbelievable, everyone I know from there is a heavy drinker or an alcoholic. Also if this was per capita Superior, Wisconsin would probably be number one on this list, anyone that has been there would probably agree.

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I happen to have grown up in Superior and can verify this as true. It's all bars, liquor stores, and gas stations.

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I'm happy to say that Minneapolis would have ranked 5th if it weren't for me and my friends.

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I Have to beleive my crew needs to bear some of the blame here. For example A simple twins game leads to drinks(X10} in champs alley. After getting kicked out of Champs alley for being obnoxious, (pffft guess lapdances are frowned up at champs) we decide hooters porch could ease our hunger. We get a table at hooters, needlessly hassle to wait staff but finnally get settleed into a few pitchers of beer and some of the crappiest wings on the planet.

the next thing I know Im in handcuffs,. being thrown into an elevator and be berated my some [censored] cop.

I had no idea there was a law against trowing chicken wings off of a balcony into a group of yuppies at the club below. Who would have thought. What put them over the edge was dumping a pitcher of beer over the edge onto the table of diners below us.

While in cuffs I demand to know what law I broke, and demanded my laywer. (3/4 people in our group were attorneys, and drunker than I was, but still willing to advise me through questioning)

I am not allowed to speak to my attorney, and am released after signing a statement to the effect that Iwould not come back to "block E" (Bar/restuarant area) for one year.


Good [censored] thing too, I hate Downtown bars. But love Minneapolis!!!!!!! Number 2 woot!!!