Austin just made another top ten list - Drunkest Cities (San Antonio: home, buy)

[CptnRn]

Austin ranks as 5th drunkest city. (http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/fitcity/entries/2010/02/04/_what_austin_is_drunker.html?srcTrk=RTR_216124 - broken link)

We looked at annual death rates due to alcoholic liver disease, as well as who's headed there by regularly downing five or more drinks in a sitting (CDC). Next, we factored in drunk-driving arrests (FBI) and the percentage of fatal accidents involving intoxicated motorists (U.S. Department of Transportation). Then, after tallying the MADD report card of state efforts to cut down on excessive drinking, we had our ranking

1. Fresno, CA
2. Reno, NV
3. Billings, MT
4. Riverside, CA
5. Austin, TX
6. St. Louis, MO
7. San Antonio, TX
8. Lubbock, TX
9. Tucson, AZ
10. Bakersfield, CA

America's Drunkest Cities : Men's Health Metrogrades

[CarnivalGal]

I think the fact that drunk driving and accident statistics are a factor is reflected in the fact that most cities are in the Western half of the country. Cities in the Northeast have just as many drunks, they just don't have to drive; they can just take the train home or walk. And cities like Boston and Philadelphia have more colleges per capita than any others in the US, so it's not as though they have a lack of college kids.

The cities on the list are all near large universities and are very spread out, so most everyone drives. I think the driving statistic is what put these cities ahead of some others.

[CarnivalGal]

Also wanted to add that the drunk driving penalties and alcohol laws in general are pretty damn lax in Texas. It's the only state I've ever been in that has drive through Daquiri barns. And don't forget that you can buy single beers (with little paper bags) from any convenience store.

In my home state of Pennsylvania, for example, you still can't even buy beer at the grocery store. And you can't buy anything less than a case at a time (from licensed distributors) or a 6-pack (remarkably overpriced, BTW) from certain bars.

[CptnRn]

Good points. Perhaps the list should be titled "Cities with the most dangerous drunks". As drunks behind the wheel of a car are far more dangerous then those walking down the street or using mass transit.

[CptnRn]

I see that Austin also held place 5 in 2006

//www.city-data.com/forum/austi...-drunkest.html

[burlshoe114]

Maybe its because people are hot and thirsty? :-)

[love roses]

There ya go!

[Jennibc]

I know we get drunk far more often since moving here

[Runemaster]

Originally Posted by mm57553

I think the fact that drunk driving and accident statistics are a factor is reflected in the fact that most cities are in the Western half of the country. Cities in the Northeast have just as many drunks, they just don't have to drive; they can just take the train home or walk. And cities like Boston and Philadelphia have more colleges per capita than any others in the US, so it's not as though they have a lack of college kids.

The cities on the list are all near large universities and are very spread out, so most everyone drives. I think the driving statistic is what put these cities ahead of some others.

Good points. Baltimore's town motto is "A Drinking Town with a Baseball Problem", so any such list as this is obviously flawed without Baltimore on it.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Runemaster

Good points. Baltimore's town motto is "A Drinking Town with a Baseball Problem", so any such list as this is obviously flawed without Baltimore on it.

Baltimore is on the list at 60th place.