Is Montana Drinking Less as the Rest of America Cuts Back?

Montana has a drinking culture. There are numerous statistics available, and not all of them are favorable.  

Montana’s Longstanding Drinking Reputation

Montana is one of the leading states for DUI arrests and fatalities. We’ve also led the nation in DUI fatalities for drivers who are under 21 years old, according to Alcohol.org. 

The U.S. has hit a 100-year low in alcohol consumption, according to a new Gallup poll. The poll shows that 54% of adults admit to drinking alcohol ,the lowest number since Gallup began tracking Americans’ drinking behavior in 1939.  

How Montana Compares to National Drinking Trends

There is a trend among Americans who believe that even moderate consumption of alcohol is bad for a person’s health. Do Montanans agree?  

Montana’s reputation for drinking is known in other parts of the country. A rumor circulated that Montana State University fans drank so much beer that a bar in Nashville ran out when the fans were in town for the FCS National Championship Game.  

READ MORE: Did Bobcat Fans Stress Nashville’s Beer Supply?

According to America’s Health Rankings, 21% of Montanans admit to binge drinking (having four or more drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days). That ranks Montana toward the bottom of the country for excessive drinking. The only states that rank lower are Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The state with the least amount of binge drinkers is Utah.

READ MORE: 3 Montana Cities Rank As ‘Drunkest’ In The Nation  

Since 2011, Montana has had a higher percentage of binge drinkers every year than the national average.  

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It may take a year or two for us to compile statistics to find out if Montanans are following the rest of the U.S. and cutting back on their drinking of alcohol. In the meantime, for those attempting “Dry January”, I wish you luck with that; it isn’t an easy task in Montana.