What's in the water in the upper midwest? (college, design)

[Trabbz]

So, this is the list (in order) of states where the highest percentage of adults admited to drinking and driving in the last year.

1. Wisconsin
2. North Dakota
3. Minnesota
4. Nebraska
5. South Dakota

I grew up in Wisconsin and this does not suprise me at all. I did not know that sobriety checkpoints even existed until I moved to Florida. And I heard Wisconsin was very resistant to lowering the BAC to .08 and only did so when the federal government threatened to take away federal highway funding.

What does suprise me is that all of these states are located in the same area and most border each other? What is the deal?

[WILWRadio]

Probably winter. You also see a lot of drinking in New England and upstate NY as well though I suspect they also utilize designated drivers a bit more than the region you specify.

[MinnesotaMarvin]

Needless to say I wasn't surprised by Wisconsin's place on the list either , but Minnesota's was pretty pretty unexpected, IMO. I know people here drink and drive but I didn't think we did it THAT much.

[Nafster]

Hey, at least we have water

[InLondon]

Originally Posted by Trabbz

So, this is the list (in order) of states where the highest percentage of adults admited to drinking and driving in the last year.

1. Wisconsin
2. North Dakota
3. Minnesota
4. Nebraska
5. South Dakota

I grew up in Wisconsin and this does not suprise me at all. I did not know that sobriety checkpoints even existed until I moved to Florida. And I heard Wisconsin was very resistant to lowering the BAC to .08 and only did so when the federal government threatened to take away federal highway funding.

What does suprise me is that all of these states are located in the same area and most border each other? What is the deal?

Interesting, do you have a link for the website where you got this information?

[MinnesotaMarvin]

Originally Posted by InLondon

Interesting, do you have a link for the website where you got this information?

KAALtv.com - Minnesota Among Top 5 Worst Drunk Driving States (http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S421905.shtml?cat=10151 - broken link)

It was on the local news here, as well.

[tpabes]

Well I'm guessing Alcohol is in the water. I'd say winter or lack of other things to do in rural areas.

[InLondon]

Originally Posted by MinnesotaMarvin

KAALtv.com - Minnesota Among Top 5 Worst Drunk Driving States (http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S421905.shtml?cat=10151 - broken link)

It was on the local news here, as well.

Thanks for the link.

[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.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

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.

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.