California's Drinking Habits: A Regional Analysis Reveals Surprising Disparities
A study by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute found that Wisconsin has the highest rate of excessive drinkers in the United States, with 26% of adults self-reporting excessive drinking. The study also revealed that California has a lower rate of excessive drinking at 18%. County-level data showed that nine out of the ten counties with the highest rates of excessive drinking were in Wisconsin. In California, the northeastern part of the state, including Sierra and Amador counties, had the highest concentration of excessive drinkers. Additionally, California had the highest number of alcohol-impaired driving deaths, despite its lower rate of excessive drinking.