The results are in…
Here are the 10 states who drink the lowest amount of alcohol, no matter if it’s a bourbon, a pinot noir, or a Coors Light.
If you’re curious, we got the data for our rankings compliments of the National Institutes of Health.
Without further ado, let’s count ’em down!
Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 2.21
Honorable mention Maryland consumes 2.21 gallons of alcohol-based ethanol per person.
Must be proximity to DC!
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 2.18
Kansas just barely misses the official top 10 list by consuming slightly more alcohol than #10 South Carolina.
Residents especially scored low on wine consumption – in fact, Kansas has the second-lowest per capita wine consumption of any state in the country, with only West Virginia scoring lower.
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 2.14
South Carolina starts off our list at number 10, with its wine drinking especially low (vs. beer or liquor).
If you’re wondering, North Carolina ranks #21 and drinks more than twice as much wine per Carolinian.
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 2.13
If Nebraskans have to drink something alcoholic, it’s beer.
They drink more alcohol from beer than wine and liquor combined.
In fact, they drink slightly more beer than the national average.
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 2.13
Ohio is another beer before hard and wine state.
That said, over the decades, wine has been on an ever-so-slow uptick. Still, beer has an over 3:1 lead on wine in the Buckeye State.
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 2.06
This is the first state on the list that’s below the U.S.’s average in each of the major alcohol categories (and it won’t the be last!).
Fun fact: According to the Brewers Association the only state with fewer breweries per capital than Alabama is Mississippi (which didn’t make the top 10 here).
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 2.00
A theme you’ll notice across this list is that the more traditionally religious states tend to be well-represented.
That’s true here in Idaho, where about a quarter of the population is Mormon.
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 1.96
The South is the “driest” region in the U.S. when it comes to alcohol, so it’s no surprise to see Arkansas is on the list.
About half of this list is from the Bible Belt states.
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 1.91
Ignoring Georgia natives Jason Aldean singing about whiskey drinks and Lil Jon rapping about crunk juice, Georgia’s alcohol consumption is actually low and falling over the years.
Like the rest of the US, wine has been on a slow rise, though.
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 1.87
Oklahoma gets into our Top 3, a couple places above its neighbor Arkansas!
If you’re wondering about Texas, it’s pretty middle of the pack.
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 1.82
No way you guessed West Virginia as your #2, did you?
Here’s an interesting quirk. West Virginia is slightly above average in beer consumption but gets to #2 here by being dead last in drinking both wine and spirits!
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Annual gallons of ethanol per person: 1.30
Utah is #1 and it isn’t even close!
Potentially due to having a Mormon majority in the state, Utahans drink a whole half a gallon less ethanol per person than #2 West Virginia.
Congratulate Utah for making it to the top of our list, but don’t do it by raising a glass!
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America’s soberest states are:
10) South Carolina
9) Nebraska
8) Ohio
7) Alabama
6) Idaho
5) Arkansas
4) Georgia
3) Oklahoma
2) West Virginia
1) Utah
Be sure to check out the opposite list: 10 Drunkest States in America.
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What state surprised you most?
Where do you think the data is wrong?
Let us know in the comments!
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