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Feb 16thIntrigued by Monday’s global drinking habits chart in The Economist, I made a US comparison. There are more colorful versions out there but mine is more fine grained.
The data isn’t perfect. Essentially, the NIAAA tabulates alcohol sales for each state and then divided it by census population numbers, including any person 14 or older. The reliance on sales figures probably explains Nevada’s strong #2 showing. But what’s up with New Hampshire?
If New Hampshire (4.22 gallons/16 liters) were a country, it would stand astride the world, trailing only the Czech Republic and Moldova - which is tops in the world thanks to moonshine consumption - in ethanolic goodness.
No surprise that Utah finds itself at the bottom of this list. Its modest sales - 1.34 gallons/5 liters - are similar to nations like Liberia (5.06 liters), Jamaica (5.0 liters), and Lesotho (5.55 liters) in which disposable income is too precious to be spent on alcohol. Among wealthier nations, only the Arab states and Singapore are more teetotaling than Utah.
yay! livin’ free or dyin’!
