You’ve probably seen the viral maps floating around social media. They usually show the Midwest—specifically Wisconsin—glowing a deep, ominous purple while the rest of the country looks relatively tame. It’s easy to laugh at the "beer belly of America" memes, but when you actually look at a drunkest counties in America map, the reality is a bit more nuanced than just a bunch of guys in Green Bay jerseys hitting the tavern.
Basically, these maps aren't just about who likes a party. They are built on serious data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program. They track "excessive drinking," which is a fancy way of saying binge drinking or heavy weekly consumption.
And honestly? The results might surprise you. It’s not just college towns or vacation spots.
The Heavy Hitters: Where People Drink the Most
If you look at the 2025-2026 data releases, one name keeps popping up at the top: Gallatin County, Montana. According to the most recent datasets analyzed by platforms like IntoxiStates, Gallatin County has seen excessive drinking rates hit as high as 26.8%. That’s more than a quarter of the adult population reporting that they’ve had a few too many on a regular basis.
Montana isn't alone up there. The "drunkest" regions tend to cluster in the Upper Midwest and the Mountain West.
- Wisconsin: It’s a legend for a reason. Outagamie County and Winnebago County consistently rank in the top tier. In fact, in many years, nearly half of the top 50 drunkest counties in the entire U.S. are located in Wisconsin.
- The Dakotas: Both North and South Dakota show high concentrations of red on the map, particularly in rural areas where social life often revolves around the local bar.
- Iowa and Nebraska: These states also hold their own, with rates frequently hovering above 22%.
Why these places? Some experts point to "cultural acceptance." In Wisconsin, for example, the tavern league is powerful, and drinking is woven into the social fabric—think Friday night fish fries and brandy old fashioneds. It's just what people do.
What the Map Gets Wrong About "Drunkest"
We need to be careful with how we read a drunkest counties in America map. Does a high percentage of excessive drinkers mean everyone is an alcoholic? Not necessarily.
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The CDC defines binge drinking as four or more drinks for women or five or more for men on a single occasion. Heavy drinking is eight or more drinks a week for women or 15 for men. You could be a perfectly functional professional who goes out for a heavy Saturday night once a month and you’d still fall into the "excessive" category on these surveys.
Also, there’s the "honesty factor." Some researchers suggest that people in the Midwest are just more honest about their drinking habits when a surveyor calls. In other parts of the country, there might be a bit more social stigma, leading people to underreport how much they’re actually tipping back.
The Dry Side of the Map
On the flip side, you have the "driest" counties. Utah County, Utah, often takes the crown for the lowest rate of excessive drinking, sometimes dipping as low as 9%. This isn't a shocker given the religious demographics of the area.
You also see lower rates in parts of the Deep South, like Alabama and Mississippi. This creates a fascinating "Yin and Yang" effect on the national map. You have the "Alcohol Belt" in the North and the "Bible Belt" in the South where the numbers stay significantly lower.
The Serious Side: Health and Safety
While it's easy to make jokes about "Wisconsin vs. Everyone," there is a darker side to these maps. Excessive drinking is a major risk factor for chronic diseases, liver issues, and—most immediate—alcohol-impaired driving deaths.
The 2025 County Health Rankings show a direct correlation between these "purple" counties and higher rates of road fatalities. In states like Montana and Wyoming, where distances are long and public transit is non-existent, the combination of high drinking rates and driving is often lethal.
New Mexico is another outlier. While it might not always have the highest percentage of drinkers, it frequently has the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths. This suggests that while fewer people might be drinking excessively compared to Wisconsin, the ones who do are drinking in a way that is much more dangerous or lacks the support systems to prevent tragedy.
Trends to Watch in 2026
The way we drink is changing. While national rates of excessive drinking actually saw a slight dip in 2023-2024 (dropping to about 16.4% nationally), the "hot spots" on the map remain remarkably stubborn.
- The Rise of N/A: Non-alcoholic beers and spirits are exploding. It’ll be interesting to see if this trend eventually thins out the numbers in places like Sonoma County, California, or New York County, where "martini culture" usually keeps the maps bright red.
- Economic Impact: The cost of alcohol-related issues—lost productivity, healthcare, and criminal justice—is estimated at over $249 billion annually in the U.S.
- Rural vs. Urban: Rural counties often have fewer resources for addiction treatment. In some parts of the Dakotas, you might have to drive 100 miles to find a specialized facility.
How to Use This Information
If you live in one of these high-ranking counties, don't panic. The map is a tool for public health, not a judgment on your character. But it is a good reminder to check in on your own habits.
Actionable Steps for Navigating Drinking Culture:
- Check the Data Yourself: If you’re curious about your specific area, look up the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps website. They provide interactive tools that let you see exactly how your county stacks up against the national average.
- Understand the "Standard Drink": Most people pour way more than a standard drink. A 12-ounce beer (5% ABV), a 5-ounce glass of wine (12% ABV), or a 1.5-ounce shot of spirits all count as "one." If you’re drinking craft IPAs with 9% ABV, that pint is actually nearly two drinks.
- Evaluate the Context: High drinking rates in an area often mean a lack of other social outlets. If you're looking to cut back, try finding "third places"—cafes, hobby clubs, or gyms—that don't revolve around a bar.
- Advocate for Safety: In high-risk counties, support initiatives for better public transportation or ride-share availability. Often, the "drunkest" counties are simply the ones where it’s hardest to get home safely without a car.
The drunkest counties in America map tells a story of culture, geography, and sometimes, a lack of options. Whether you’re in Gallatin or Utah County, understanding the data is the first step toward making informed choices about your health and your community.