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Written by Sam Huisache
❗What is America’s drunkest city and America’s most sober city?❗
America’s drunkest city designation belongs to Milwaukee, while America’s most sober city is surprisingly Memphis, Tennessee. Despite being a popular destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties, Memphis doesn’t really have a large or out-of-control drinking culture. No one will be surprised, though, that Milwaukee, known for its plethora of breweries, is the country’s drunkest city, but read on to find out why.
50 Most Populous Metros, Ranked | 10 Drunkest Cities | 10 Most Sober Cities | City Rankings by Category | Methodology | FAQ
It’s clear that alcohol is a big part of American culture. In 2020 alone, total alcoholic beverage sales numbers in the U.S. reached over $222 billion. Alcohol consumption, however, is not a pleasure without risks.
About 95,000 people (approximately 68,000 men and 27,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes per year, according to estimates. As a result, alcohol is now the third-most common preventable cause of death in the U.S., after tobacco use, poor diet, and physical inactivity.
Alcohol’s high death toll is an unfortunate consequence of its popularity in the country. Alcohol is a common staple in American culture, from sporting events and music festivals to weddings and daily happy hours.
Although alcohol is still a huge industry, America may actually be moving away from its alcohol-centricity: 22% of consumers reported last year that they were cutting back on consuming alcohol and drinking less.
This led us to investigate which major metros in the U.S. have the biggest drinking cultures. Some cities may see being designated as “drunkest” as a source of pride, but such a designation should come with introspection given alcohol’s dangers. On the other hand, the “most sober” cities may also make for good moving options for folks looking to get away from party cities and excessive drinking.
To find out where the drunkest cities in America are, we analyzed data from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, U.S. Census Bureau, Walk Score, Expatistan.com, Yelp, and Google Trends.
Our weighted rankings evaluated various criteria, including:
- 10x: Safety score, a normalized score based on the percentage of adults binge drinking and percentage of driving deaths involving alcohol. The lower the safety score (and higher the percentages), the drunker the city.
- 5x: Number of bars per 100,000 residents
- 4x: Google Trends for 15 drinking-related terms/topics (such as “happy hour,” “bars near me,” “hangover cure,” etc.)
- 2x: Number of breweries per 100,000 residents
- 2x: Number of wine bars per 100,000 residents
- 1x: Walkability score
Our metrics not only measure the overall popularity of drinking (number of bars, breweries, etc.) but also overall safety surrounding the consumption of alcohol in the city. For example, we included a metric for walkability because cities where walking is a more accessible mode of transportation can facilitate less drunk driving (in theory).
If you’re reading this study and believe you might need help with curbing your drinking, please check out the national helpline through SAMHSA for support: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
SAMHSA’s national helpline can assist you with referrals to medical treatment, support groups, and more. You are not alone, everyone needs help sometimes, and there is hope.
🍻 Statistics on America’s Drunkest & Most Sober Cities
- Milwaukee is America’s drunkest city, while Memphis, Tennessee, is America’s most sober. Find out why.👇
- The average cocktail is the most expensive in Miami ($17) and the least expensive in Milwaukee ($8). 👇
- New Orleans has the most bars, breweries, and wineries per capita (57.3), while Riverside, California, has the fewest (2.5). 👇
- Minneapolis is the least-safe city for drinking (safety score of just 25.2 out of 100), while Memphis is the safest (100). 👇
- Cleveland has the highest rate of alcohol-impaired driving deaths at 40.4% of all driving deaths — 49.6% higher than the national rate of 27%. 👇
- Denver is the best city for craft beer, Las Vegas is the best city for happy hour, and San Francisco is the best city for cocktails (based on Google Trends data). 👇
- People in Denver search the most on Google for alcohol-related terms such as “bars near me,” “happy hour,” and “cocktails.” 👇
- Phoenix ranks No. 1 for a sober lifestyle based on Google searches. 👇
The 50 Most Populous Metros in the U.S., Ranked From “Drunkest” to “Most Sober”
| Rank | City | Bars per 100K Residents | Breweries per 100K Residents | Wine Bars per 100K Residents | Safety Score* | Excessive Drinking Rate (%) | Driving Deaths With Alcohol Involved(%) | Average Price of Cocktail | Drinking Interest Score** | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | National Average | 18.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 59.6 | 20% | 27% | $12.20 | 76.6 | |||||||||
| 1 | Milwaukee, WI | 36.7 | 3 | 2.7 | 26.6 | 24.60% | 28% | $8.00 | 78.1 | |||||||||
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | 57.3 | 1.4 | 4.3 | 38.2 | 21.90% | 30% | $13.00 | 69.8 | |||||||||
| 3 | Portland, OR | 38.2 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 45.6 | 21.40% | 27.80% | $12.00 | 82.5 | |||||||||
| 4 | Denver, CO | 28.5 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 39.7 | 19.90% | 34.60% | $12.00 | 100 | |||||||||
| 5 | Providence, RI | 21.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 27.6 | 21.40% | 36.20% | $11.00 | 81.9 | |||||||||
| 6 | Boston, MA | 17.5 | 0.8 | 2 | 29.8 | 23.10% | 30.40% | $15.00 | 89 | |||||||||
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | 12.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 25.2 | 23.50% | 31.70% | $14.00 | 82.3 | |||||||||
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | 23.2 | 2.3 | 1 | 37.8 | 22.50% | 28.40% | $11.00 | 79.5 | |||||||||
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | 19.9 | 1.5 | 1 | 32.6 | 19% | 40.40% | $11.00 | 76.5 | |||||||||
| 10 | Austin, TX | 26.2 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 50.9 | 21.40% | 25.40% | $12.00 | 87.7 | |||||||||
| 11 | Cincinnati, OH | 22.7 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 49.1 | 19.70% | 30.80% | $9.00 | 76.5 | |||||||||
| 12 | Chicago, IL | 14.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 40.4 | 22.70% | 26.60% | $15.00 | 86.2 | |||||||||
| 13 | Buffalo, NY | 27.5 | 2 | 1.9 | 55.9 | 22.80% | 19.20% | $9.00 | 82 | |||||||||
| 14 | Seattle, WA | 22.5 | 2 | 2.4 | 53.8 | 18.60% | 31.70% | $13.00 | 72 | |||||||||
| 15 | San Diego, CA | 22.9 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 58.9 | 19.30% | 27.50% | $16.00 | 88.4 | |||||||||
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | 18 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 49.2 | 20.40% | 28.90% | $11.00 | 70.2 | |||||||||
| 17 | Columbus, OH | 19.9 | 1.7 | 1 | 47.9 | 19.50% | 32% | $10.00 | 71.2 | |||||||||
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | 15.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 51.3 | 19.40% | 30.80% | $11.00 | 82.1 | |||||||||
| 19 | Hartford, CT | 12.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 49.9 | 18.90% | 32.80% | $11.00 | 81.9 | |||||||||
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | 12.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 45.7 | 21.60% | 27.30% | $12.00 | 64.1 | |||||||||
| 21 | Las Vegas, NV | 40.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 72.6 | 17.60% | 25.70% | $13.00 | 92.1 | |||||||||
| 22 | San Francisco, CA | 23.4 | 1 | 4.1 | 69.2 | 18.90% | 23.70% | $14.00 | 71.4 | |||||||||
| 23 | Kansas City, MO | 14.4 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 51.1 | 19.60% | 30.10% | $11.00 | 76.2 | |||||||||
| 24 | Jacksonville, FL | 11.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 51.1 | 21% | 26.40% | $12.00 | 76.3 | |||||||||
| 25 | Louisville, KY | 23.6 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 63.7 | 19.70% | 24.10% | $10.00 | 65 | |||||||||
| 26 | St. Louis, MO | 12.7 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 55.8 | 18.50% | 31.10% | $11.00 | 74.5 | |||||||||
| 27 | Orlando, FL | 18.8 | 1 | 1.7 | 62.5 | 20.20% | 23.30% | $13.00 | 79.5 | |||||||||
| 28 | Houston, TX | 10 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 52 | 19.30% | 30.70% | $11.00 | 71.4 | |||||||||
| 29 | Tampa, FL | 10.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 56.9 | 21.20% | 23.10% | $13.00 | 79.8 | |||||||||
| 30 | New York, NY | 21.4 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 70.2 | 20.30% | 19.40% | $16.00 | 75.7 | |||||||||
| 31 | Detroit, MI | 8.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 53.4 | 20.70% | 26.10% | $12.00 | 69.2 | |||||||||
| 32 | San Antonio, TX | 16.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 60.8 | 19% | 27.30% | $8.00 | 70.9 | |||||||||
| 33 | Nashville, TN | 23.7 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 73.8 | 18% | 24.20% | $13.00 | 84.3 | |||||||||
| 34 | Virginia Beach, VA | 7.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 55.3 | 18.60% | 31.20% | $12.00 | 76.8 | |||||||||
| 35 | Philadelphia, PA | 14.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 68.8 | 19.50% | 22.30% | $13.00 | 85.8 | |||||||||
| 36 | Washington, DC | 17.4 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 72.9 | 16.30% | 29.10% | $15.00 | 84.3 | |||||||||
| 37 | Dallas, TX | 7.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 61.2 | 19.40% | 26.10% | $14.00 | 72.3 | |||||||||
| 38 | Richmond, VA | 16.8 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 79.1 | 14.70% | 30.70% | $10.00 | 74.2 | |||||||||
| 39 | San Jose, CA | 17.6 | 1 | 1 | 73.2 | 17.60% | 25.60% | $14.00 | 71.4 | |||||||||
| 40 | Oklahoma City, OK | 18.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 79.5 | 15.70% | 27.80% | $12.00 | 68.8 | |||||||||
| 41 | Riverside, CA | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 66 | 17.90% | 28.00% | $13.00 | 69 | |||||||||
| 42 | Miami, FL | 12.3 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 84.5 | 20.40% | 12.50% | $17.00 | 80 | |||||||||
| 43 | Indianapolis, IN | 14.3 | 1.5 | 1 | 80.5 | 18.50% | 19.60% | $11.00 | 66.4 | |||||||||
| 44 | Baltimore, MD | 16 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 88 | 14.40% | 27.30% | $12.00 | 84.4 | |||||||||
| 45 | Phoenix, AZ | 7.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 79.8 | 17.50% | 22.70% | $12.00 | 79.3 | |||||||||
| 46 | Salt Lake City, UT | 14.3 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 88.7 | 14.40% | 27% | $12.00 | 57.5 | |||||||||
| 47 | Los Angeles, CA | 7.6 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 79.2 | 17.50% | 23% | $16.00 | 69 | |||||||||
| 48 | Atlanta, GA | 10.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 82.6 | 18% | 19.80% | $13.00 | 74.2 | |||||||||
| 49 | Birmingham, AL | 15.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 91 | 17.70% | 16.90% | $11.00 | 64.3 | |||||||||
| 50 | Memphis, TN | 11.2 | 0.9 | 1 | 100 | 15.60% | 18.40% | $10.00 | 64.8 | |||||||||
| *Safety score, a normalized score based on the percentage of adults binge drinking and percentage of driving deaths involving alcohol. The lower the score, the drunker the city. **Drinking Interest Score is based on average Google Trends score for 15 drinking-related terms. | ||||||||||||||||||
10 Drunkest Cities
The 10 drunkest cities may be the best for party-goers and celebrants such as professional sports fans. These cities, however, may also be the worst for those looking to settle down and enjoy a quiet life with calmer hobbies, such as being bookworms and hitting up museums.
Our 10 drunkest cities stand out from the rest by having:
- More bars per capita: The 10 drunkest cities have an average of 28.2 bars per 100,000 residents versus the average city’s 18.4. That’s 152% more bars per capita compared to the 10 most sober cities (11.2).
- More alcohol-related driving deaths: The 10 drunkest cities have an average percentage of driving deaths that involve alcohol of 31.3%. That’s 46% more than the 10 most sober cities (21.5%).
Although the 10 drunkest cities may be more walkable (average score of 64 out of 100) than the 10 most sober (average of 50), it doesn’t appear that walkability alone can prevent alcohol-related driving deaths, suggesting other factors, such as the percentage of binge drinkers and overall safety, play a bigger role. For example, the 10 drunkest cities have a 27% higher percentage of binge drinkers (21.9%) than the 10 most sober (17.2%).
It’s not only important to drink in moderation, but it’s also absolutely vital that those who drink create a plan for safely getting home, whether that means a designated driver or a ride-share service.
1. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
More Breweries per Capita
Milwaukee, aka “Brew City,” has a ton of breweries, of course. In fact, there are three breweries for every 100,000 residents, 131% more than the average city in our study (1.3).
Compared to other cities, Milwaukee also has more general bars (36.7) and wine bars (2.7) per 100,000 residents. That’s 99% and 60% more than the average city, respectively.
It also has the cheapest cocktails of any city on our list. On average, a cocktail costs just $8 in Milwaukee. That’s 38.5% lower than the national average of $13 a cocktail.
Unfortunately, Milwaukee also has a significantly lower safety score than average at only 26.6 out of 100 — 55% less safe than the average city (59.6). This is largely attributed to a 23% higher excessive drinking rate than average (24.6%) — the highest excessive drinking rate in our study — and a 3.7% higher rate of driving deaths involving alcohol than average (28%).
Given its nickname and cultural history of being home to a large variety of breweries, it’s also no surprise that Milwaukee is slightly more interested in drinking than other cities. The city has a drinking interest score (Google Trends score) of 78.1 out of 100. That’s 2% higher than the average city in our study (76.8).
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
Problems With Excessive Drinking
New Orleans has a 9.5% higher excessive drinking rate (21.9%) than the average city (20%). This is another city whose ranking won’t shock many. New Orleans has a huge reputation as a party town, even outside of lively celebrations such as Mardi Gras.
Like Milwaukee, New Orleans has a significant number of places to drink per capita. New Orleans has 57.3 bars per 100,000 residents compared to 18.4 in the average city in our study — that’s 211% more bars, the most of any city in our study.
New Orleans also has 169% more wine bars per capita than average with 4.3 per 100,000 residents. And although New Orleans does have a higher walkability score than average (58 out of 100 compared to 54), its overall safety score is still 36% lower than average (59.6) at just 38.2 out of 100.
Alongside its high excessive drinking rate, New Orleans’ rate of alcohol-impaired driving dates also contributes to its low safety score. The city has an alcohol-impaired driving death rate of 30%, which is 11.1% higher than average (27%).
3. Portland, Oregon
Solace in Higher Walkability
Despite its overall high rating for drunkenness, Portland has a walkability score of 67 out of 100, which is 24% higher than the average city (54).
So Portland is great for walking, but what makes it the third-drunkest city in America? Well, for starters, Portland has a lot of places for drinking. At 4.3 breweries per 100,000 residents, it has 231% more breweries per capita than the average city (1.3) and the most of any city on our list.
It also has a lot of bars: 18.4 standard bars and 3.9 wine bars per 100,000 residents. That’s 108% and 144% more than average, respectively. Portland also has a 7% higher excessive drinking rate (21.4%) than the average city (20%).
Despite the fact that the average cocktail costs $12 in Portland, residents only contribute 2.4% of their annual income toward their weekly drinking spend. That’s 22.6% in savings compared to what the average person in the U.S. spends (3.1%). When alcohol is more affordable, people may be more likely to indulge more heavily.
4. Denver, Colorado
Higher Interest in Drinking Overall
Denver has a drinking interest score (Google Trends score) of 100 — out of 100. That’s 31% higher than the average city in our study (76.8), indicating that Denver has a strong drinking culture.
In particular, Denver also has a higher number of breweries per capita than average. The Mile High City has 3.7 breweries per 100,000 residents, 185% more than the study’s average of 1.3 per capita. When it comes to your average bar, Denver has 28.5 per 100,000 residents, 55% more than average (18.4).
Denver is another city whose overall rating on drunkenness is boosted by how relatively affordable it is to get soused there. Drinking three cocktails per week in Denver costs just 2.2% of the metro’s annual household income. That’s 29% savings compared to 3.1% in the average U.S. city.
5. Providence, Rhode Island
Alcohol-Impaired Driving Deaths More Common
Providence has an alcohol-impaired driving death rate of 36.2%, a 34.1% higher rate than the national average of 27%.
The high rate of deaths involving alcohol in Providence definitely contributes to its lower-than-average overall safety score. Providence has a safety score of just 27.6 out of 100. That’s 54% lower than the average city in our study (59.6).
Another contributing factor is that Providence has a 7% higher excessive drinking rate (21.4%) than the average city (20%).
Providence is another example of a city with a high walkability score (76 out of 100, 41% higher than the average city) but is fairly dangerous overall in terms of drinking behaviors. Of note, too, is that it’s also cheaper to regularly drink in Providence compared to other cities. Drinking three cocktails per week costs 2.4% of the average annual household income there compared to the national average of 3.1% (22.6% in savings).
6. Boston, Massachusetts
More Wine Bars Than Average
It may be surprising to learn that in terms of your traditional bars, Boston actually has fewer than average: just 17.2 per 100,000 residents compared to 18.4 in the average U.S. city. However, it is home to 25% more wine bars than average, with two wine bars per 100,000 residents.
Boston is another city that breaks the theory that a more walkable city with better public transportation would facilitate fewer alcohol-related deaths than average.
Despite having a 54% higher-than-average walkability score (83 out of 100 compared to 54 in the average city), Boston’s alcohol-impaired driving death rate is 30.4%, or 12.6% higher than average (27%). Boston also has a higher-than-average excessive drinking rate, which tracks more closely to its reputation for being a party city. Its excessive drinking rate is 20% higher than average at 15.5%.
This contributes to Boston only having a safety score of 29.9 out of 100. That’s 50% lower than the average city in our study (59.6).
7. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Significantly Lower Safety Score
Partygoers in the Mini-Apple should take caution. Minneapolis only has a safety score of 25.2 out of 100. That’s 58% lower than the average city in our study (59.6) and the worst safety score on our list.
Contributing to the city’s low safety score are issues with excessive drinking and alcohol-related deaths. Minneapolis has a 17.5% higher excessive drinking rate (23.5%) than the average city (20%) as well as a 17.4% higher alcohol-impaired driving death rate of 31.7%. The national rate is 27%.
Facilitating this is its cheaper-than-average prices on the strongest of alcoholic drinks. In Minneapolis, drinking three cocktails per week costs 2.6% of the annual local household income. That’s 16.1% in savings compared to 3.1% in the average U.S. city.
8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Another Big Brewery Town
Pittsburgh has 2.3 breweries per 100,000 residents, 77% more than the average city in our study (1.3).
Pittsburgh is a great example of a sports-centric city that also has a lot more bars than most cities: 23.2 per 100,000 residents. That’s 26% more bars than the average city in our study (18.4). More bars can lead to more inebriated fans causing ruckuses. Pittsburgh’s safety score is just 37.8 out of 100, or 37% lower than average (59.6).
Drinking is also relatively more affordable in Pittsburgh than in the average major metro, and people are definitely more likely to drink if they know they are getting a deal. The average cocktail costs $11 in Pittsburgh, 15.4% in savings compared to $13 in the average U.S. city. Drinking three cocktails per week in Pittsburgh also only costs 2.8% of the annual local household income, 9.7% in savings compared to the average U.S. city’s 3.1%.
9. Cleveland, Ohio
Drunk Driving Problems
Drunk driving is a serious issue in Cleveland. The Cleveland metro area has an alcohol-impaired driving death rate of 40.4%, 49.6% higher than the national rate of 27% and the highest on our list.
Cleveland’s shocking alcohol-related driving death rate contributes to its overall low safety score of just 32.6 out of 100. That’s 45% lower than the average city in our study (59.6).
Likely adding to its high rate of alcohol-related driving deaths, Cleveland has a fairly low walkability score compared to the other drunkest cities. Although its score of 57 is still slightly above average by 6%, it’s nothing to brag about. It may be worth it for Cleveland city officials to see if improving walkability and public transportation can curb the city’s drunk driving problem.
10. Austin, Texas
Big on Wine
Although Texas isn’t the go-to state for wine, its state capital has 50% more wine bars than average at 2.4 wine bars per 100,000 residents. This tracks with how popular drinking as a hobby is in this city.
The Austin area also has more traditional bars than average. Its 26.2 bars per 100,000 residents is 42% more than the average city (18.4).
Austin remarkably also loves drinking more than the average city. It has a drinking interest score (Google Trends score) of 87.7 out of 100. That’s 14% higher than the average city in our study (76.8), indicating a very high interest in drinking among its population.
The 10 Most Sober Cities
Although these may be the “most sober” cities, with names like Los Angeles and Atlanta on the list, you know that being more sober doesn’t have to come at the expense of having fun.
The 10 most sober cities are great options for those who do enjoy nightlife and going out but don’t want the danger associated with other major cities’ downtown scenes such as Austin’s “Dirty 6th” Street or the Las Vegas Strip.
Here’s what made the 10 most sober cities stand out:
- Higher safety scores: The 10 most sober cities in our study have a 137% higher average safety score (84 out of 100) than the 10 drunkest cities (35.4). This means they overall have a significantly lower percentage of adults binge drinking and driving deaths involving alcohol.
- Lower interest in drinking: People in the 10 most sober cities are also generally less interested in alcohol and related topics compared to the 10 drunkest. The 10 most sober cities score 14% lower (70.9 out of 100) than the 10 drunkest (82.7) on Google Trends for alcohol-related terms.
1. Memphis, Tennessee
Perfect Safety Score
Our most sober city fittingly has a perfect safety score: 100 out of 100, 68% higher than average (59.6). This doesn’t mean Memphis is without its faults in terms of drinking, but it stands out above the rest by having fewer excessive drinkers and alcohol-impaired driving deaths than average.
Just how does Memphis fare when it comes to our safety scores? For starters, it has a 22% lower excessive drinking rate (15.6%) than average. Its alcohol-impaired driving death rate is also just 18.4%, 31.9% lower than the national rate of 27%.
Memphis has much more going for it than drinking and partying. It’s well-known for its rich museums and thriving music scene. As a result, the Home of the Blues’ drinking interest score (Google Trends score) is only 64.8 out of 100. That’s 15% lower than the average city in our study (76.8), indicating less interest in drinking.
2. Birmingham, Alabama
Fewer Bars per Capita
Birmingham really seems to have a quaint and peaceful vibe to it. This tracks with the fact that it has just 15.9 bars per 100,000 residents. That’s 14% fewer bars than average (18.4).
Birmingham also has fewer breweries than average: 1.2 breweries per 100,000 residents. That’s 8% fewer than the 1.3 breweries per capita in the average city in our study.
The metro’s smaller number of bars and breweries makes sense with its high safety score of 91 out of 100. That’s 53% higher than the average city in our study (59.6).
Birmingham also has an 11.5% lower excessive drinking rate (17.7%) than the national average (20%), and an alcohol-impaired driving death rate of 16.9%, 37.4% lower than the national rate of 27%.
3. Atlanta, Georgia
On to the Surprises
Many readers of this study may be surprised to see Atlanta on the list of most sober cities, but its data backs this up. Atlanta has a safety score of 82.6 out of 100. That’s 39% higher than the average city in our study (59.6).
Atlanta has a rich arts and music culture that exists outside of its drinking culture. So despite it having a reputation for being a “live” city, it doesn’t appear that drinking plays a large role in that.
In terms of safety, Atlanta has a 10% lower excessive drinking rate (18%) than the national average (20%). Its alcohol-impaired driving death rate is also just 19.8%. That’s 26.7% lower than the national rate of 27%.
Notably, Atlanta also has only 10.3 bars per 100,000 residents, 44% fewer than the average city in our study (18.4).
4. Los Angeles, California
Another Shocker, Perhaps
Los Angeles is known for being a hub for the entertainment industry, but that doesn’t necessarily mean people are drinking while participating in the arts. L.A. has just 7.6 bars per 100,000 residents. That’s 59% fewer than average (18.4).
The high cost of living, and thus drinking, in Los Angeles could be a huge deterrent. The average cocktail costs $16 in L.A. and is 23.1% more expensive than the $13 in the average U.S. city.
L.A. is also a pretty safe city in terms of drinking. It has a 12.5% lower excessive drinking rate (17.5%) than the national average (20%) and a 14.8% lower alcohol-impaired drinking death rate (23%) than average (27%).
It also seems that Angelenos are less interested in drinking compared to other major metros. L.A.’s drinking interest score (Google Trends score) is just 69 out of 100. That’s 10% lower than the average city in our study (76.8)
5. Salt Lake City, Utah
No Surprises Here
Given the lack of a drinking culture in Utah, people in its largest metro aren’t exactly the country’s biggest drinkers. SLC’s drinking interest score (Google Trends score) is just 57.5 out of 100. That’s 25% lower than the average city in our study (76.8).
Because there is little interest in drinking, there are also fewer places to grab a beer in SLC. It has just 14.3 bars per 100,000 residents, 22% fewer than the average city in our study (18.4).
With very little drinking going on, this also makes SLC safer. It has a safety score of 88.7 out of 100, 49% higher than the average city in our study (59.6). Part of this is due to SLC having the lowest excessive drinking rate in our study — a 28% lower rate (14.4%) than the national average (20%).
6. Phoenix, Arizona
No Oasis for Drinkers
Phoenix has one of the smallest number of breweries in our study. With just 0.4 breweries per 100,000 residents, Phoenix has 69% fewer breweries than the average city.
Phoenix also has significantly fewer traditional bars (7.4) and wine bars (0.8) per 100,000 residents. That’s 60% fewer bars and 50% fewer wine bars than the average city (18.4 and 1.6, respectively).
This leads to Phoenix’s high safety score of 79.8 out of 100, which is 34% higher than average (59.6). This score is supported by its 12.5% lower excessive drinking rate (17.5%) and its 15.9% lower alcohol-impaired driving death rate (22.7%) than average. Nationally, these rates are 20% and 27%, respectively.
7. Baltimore, Maryland
Less Excessive Drinking
Baltimore has a 28% lower excessive drinking rate (14.4%) than the national average (20%). It’s a boon for sports fans (particular Ravens and Orioles fans) who aren’t necessarily into partying too hard while supporting their teams.
Due in part to its lower amount of excessive drinkers, Baltimore’s overall safety score as it pertains to drinking is 88 out of 100. That’s 48% higher than the average city in our study (59.6).
Baltimore residents also seem to prefer grabbing its famous crab cakes to drinking.
Baltimore has 16 bars per 100,000 residents, 13% fewer than the average city in our study (18.4) It has even fewer breweries and wine bars.
In Baltimore, you can only find 0.7 breweries per 100,000 residents. That’s 46% fewer than the average city in our study (1.3). Charm City does have slightly more wine bars compared to breweries per capita on average, however, with 1.1 wine bars per 100,000 residents. That’s only 31% fewer than average (1.6).
8. Indianapolis, Indiana
Also Not Too Interested in Drinking
Indianapolis has more going on than just alcohol, and its residents’ interests reflect that. It has a drinking interest score (Google Trends score) of just 66.4 out of 100. That’s 13% lower than the average city in our study (76.8), indicating little interest in drinking.
In addition to less interest in drinking, Indianapolis has few bars to match, with just 14.3 bars per 100,000 residents. That’s 22% fewer than the 18.4 in the average city in our study.
Indianapolis is also relatively safer in terms of drinking compared to most metros. Its safety score is 80.5 out of 100, 35% higher than the average city in our study (59.6).
Its high safety score is due in part to having a 7.5% lower excessive drinking rate (18.5%) than the national average (20%) and an alcohol-impaired driving death rate of 19.6%, 27.4% lower than the the national rate of 27%.
9. Miami, Florida
Dancing, Not Drinking
Miami is known for its nightlife, but there is a huge difference between having a lot of venues that focus on dancing and music than strictly drinking such as bars. In fact, Miami only has 12.3 bars per 100,000 residents, 33% fewer than the average city in our study (18.4).
When it comes to breweries, the number is even smaller. Miami has just 0.2 breweries per 100,000 residents, 85% fewer than average (1.3).
Miami can also tout its higher drinking safety score: 84.5 out of 100. That’s 42% higher than the average city in our study (59.6). Part of its higher score is the fact that it has fewer vehicular accidents involving alcohol than any other metro in our study. Miami’s alcohol-impaired driving death rate of 12.5% is 53.7% lower than the national rate of 27%.
Drinking is also an expensive hobby in Miami compared to most cities. The average cocktail costs a whopping $17 in Magic City, the most expensive city on our list and 30.8% more expensive than the average city ($13).
10. Riverside, California
Not for Wine Lovers
Unlike its upstate counterparts, Riverside is not a go-to destination for wine lovers, and its number of wine bars reflects that. Riverside has just 0.1 wine bars per 100,000 residents, 94% fewer than the average city in our study (1.6).
Riverside is another city whose population seems to be less interested in alcohol overall. As a city, it’s known more for things such as delicious Mexican food and its shopping districts. It has a drinking interest score (Google Trends score) of just 69 out of 100. That’s 10% lower than the average city in our study (76.8), indicating less interest in drinking.
This is also reflected in its overall number of traditional bars. Riverside has the lowest number of bars per capita out of any city in our study. At just 2.5 bars per 100,000 residents, Riverside has 86% fewer bars per capita than average (18.4). In addition, Riverside’s bars receive the lowest rating on Yelp out of any other city on our list, at 3.88 stars out of 5.
Riverside also is relatively safer than the average city in terms of drinking behaviors. Riverside has a safety score of 66 out of 100, 11% higher than the average city in our study (59.6). It also has a 10.5% lower excessive drinking rate (17.9%) than the national average (20%).
Drunkest Cities in America by Category
Methodology
Clever Real Estate compared the 50 most populous U.S. metro areas across six metrics, listed below. Each metric was normalized and graded on a 100-point scale. The combined weighted average of each score determined the overall “drunk city” score upon which the final ranking was based.
In cases where data sets included only counties, county data was crosswalked with metropolitan data.
- Safety score: A normalized score based on the percentage of adults binge drinking and percentage of driving deaths involving alcohol (41.67%)
- Bars per 100,000 residents in each metro area (20.83%)
- Google Trends score for 15 drinking-related terms (16.67%)
- Breweries per 100,000 residents in each metro area (8.33%)
- Wine bars per 100,000 residents in each metro area (8.33%)
- Walkability score (4.17%)
Sources: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, U.S. Census Bureau, Walk Score, Expatistan.com, Yelp, and Google Trends.
About Real Estate Witch
You shouldn’t need a crystal ball or magical powers to understand real estate. Since 2016, Real Estate Witch has demystified real estate through in-depth guides, honest company reviews, and data-driven research. In 2020, Real Estate Witch was acquired by Clever Real Estate, a free agent-matching service that has helped consumers save more than $82 million on realtor fees. Real Estate Witch’s research has been featured in CNBC, Yahoo! Finance, Chicago Tribune, Black Enterprise, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is America's drunkest city?
America's drunkest city is Milwaukee. Find out why.
What is America's drunkest state?
Wisconsin is the drunkest state based on our data for the 50 most-populous cities. Our drunkest city, Milwaukee, is located in Wisconsin. Find out what made it No. 1 on our list of the drunkest cities in America.
What city has the most bars per capita?
New Orleans has the most bars per capita at 57.3 bars per 100,000 residents.
What is America's most sober city?
Memphis, Tennessee, is America's most sober city. Find out why.
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