Cheers to Beer Consumption
Texans drink way more beer than residents in most other states
A recent survey from the Beer Institute ranks Texas No. 9 in beer consumption by state. Texas also took home a No. 2 ranking for beer shipments in the annual survey. According to the statistics, Texans 21 years of age and older (wink wink) consume an average of 34.4 gallons of beer a year.
The No. 1 spot went to North Dakota, which boasts 45.8 gallons per person, per year. The worst place for beer drinkers? Utah residents average 20.2 gallons of beer annually, which puts them in the No. 51 slot, behind all states and the District of Columbia.
Across America, the average adult drank 300 beers in 2012, or a little less than one 12-ounce beer a day. The institute says that beer is the beverage of choice for celebrating holidays, topping wine and hard liquor.
The top five states for beer consumption do beg the question of whether more beer necessarily equals more fun. North Dakota, New Hampshire, Montana, South Dakota and Wisconsin aren't exactly known for a bustling social scene. Meanwhile, New York (No. 48), California (No. 44) and Florida (No. 34) are practically teetotalers.
Of course, the survey doesn't account for other kinds of alcohol consumption — or how much fun folks had while knocking back a cold one.
