What's in the water in the upper midwest?

[j33]

What's in the water in the upper midwest?

I'm guessing gin.

[south-to-west]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

That's pretty easy though, really. It's just the midwest culture.

I've actually talked with a few random friends who moved here from out east and out west, and they all laughed and commented on the very ingrained binge drinking culture that they never really noticed in other parts of the country. Maybe it came from the massive German and Irish roots in the area. They're always amazed at all the totally plastered people walking around at 8pm in Chicago, whereas in NYC, I was told people didn't really start drinking till 10pm. They also love the huge amount of day-drinking in the Midwest. I know my friends and I will start the bar crawls around 10am on the weekends here, it's just normal. Tailgate in Iowa always started by 7am, and went to around 2am the next morning. Even my 60 year old parents are well into their drinking by 9am on college football days.

CarolinaBredChicagoan: I think that's a pretty valid assertion. Now, there are some HARD drinkers down South. However, there are so many tee-totaling, anti-alcohol Baptist types that it balances out. Not the case in the Midwest, so much.

I had to rep both of these postings because they both hit the nail on the head. I live in Atlanta, but I was raised in Milwaukee and went to college in Madison. 60614's description of the Midwest drinking culture was spot-on--especially when he alluded to older people getting hammered next to their kids and grandkids. It's less taboo back home and more of a fact of life and culture--just like Friday Night Fish Fries.

Carolina's description of Southern drinkers is spot-on as well. When I moved to Atlanta, I was amazed by how much Southerners drink. Also, it is true how the Evangelical anti-alcohol types kind of balance it out.

[fruitlassie]

Most of these places have little to no reliable public transportation, probably not much in the way of taxis in the smaller towns either.

[metro223]

Was Iowa #6? lol.

[ogre]

The rural character of a good part of this territory may contribute as well. You've got people driving into town to hit their favorite bars, then driving home after the evening's recreation. This happens everywhere, but maybe less so in more densely populated states where some people going out intending to drink will stroll around the corner to the neighborhood tavern.