On average, Americans spent $583 on alcohol in 2022. Annual alcohol spending varies in different metros across the United States, with some states spending a significant portion of their income on alcohol while others barely spend on it.
Here is a list of the top five metros with most alcohol spending and five metros with least alcohol spending.
Here are Five metros with the most alcohol spending
Seattle, Washington
Seattle, the most populous city in Washington, is also one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. It is the headquarters for multiple Fortune 500 companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks.
Seattle residents have the highest annual alcohol spending in the U.S., $1269, which is 1.35% of their total expenses. The city has an alcohol problem, with more than one in five adults drinking excessively.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota. Known as the “City of Lakes,” it is home to 13 lakes, including the Mississippi River.
The annual alcohol spending in Minneapolis is $1098, which is 1.32% of their total expenditure. 22.9% of adults in Minneapolis drink excessively, and 31.4% of the fatal car accidents in the metro were alcohol induced.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is one of America’s most historically rich cities. It is also nicknamed “Beantown” for its historical importance in the coffee trade. The city is home to prestigious universities like Harvard, MIT, and Tufts.
Boston residents spend 1.23% of their total annual expenditure on alcohol, $1100. 23.3% of adults drink excessively in Boston, and 29.7% of the fatal car accidents in the city were alcohol induced.
Washington DC, Washington
Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, serves as the nation’s political center and a major tourist destination.
The nation’s capital has some of the highest spending on alcohol, with residents spending as much as $929 annually on alcohol, which is 1.35% of their total expenditures. 42% of all fatalities in Washington are caused by alcohol.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is one of the largest and most populous cities in the U.S. It is also the third-largest metropolitan economy in the U.S., with a GDP of $630.13 billion.
Residents spend $907 annually on alcohol, which is 1.22% of their total expenditure. The windy city is also one of the drunkest cities in the United States, with an excessive drinking rate of 22.7%. It has also been ranked as the twelfth drunkest city in America in 2022.
Five metros with the least alcohol spending
Houston, Texas
Houston, the fourth-most populous city in the U.S., is home to the Texas Medical Center as well as the Johnson Space Center, NASA’s center for spaceflight control and training.
Houston metro has the lowest alcohol spending in the country, $585. Residents spend only 0.79% of their total expenditures on alcohol. Despite its low alcohol spend, Houston has some of the highest number of alcohol-induced car accidents; in 2022 alone, the metro recorded 2355 drunk driving crashes.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is also the most populous city in the state. The city is home to the headquarters of major corporations such as The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, and UPS. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, is also located in Atlanta.
Residents spend $600 annually on alcohol, which is 0.83% of their total annual expenditure. Not only does Atlanta have a low alcohol spending, but the metro is one of the least drunk cities in the United States and is ranked forty-eight drunkest in America out of fifty large cities.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore has a rich maritime history and was an important seaport and manufacturing center in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the city is known for its iconic Inner Harbor waterfront, world-class medical institutions, and vibrant arts scene.
Residents spend $692 on alcohol annually, which is 0.84% of their total expenditure.
New York City, New York
New York City, or NYC, is the largest city in the United States, with over 8.8 million people. It is a top tourist destination, receiving over 60 million visitors annually.
New Yorkers only spend $788 annually on alcohol, which is 0.9% of their total expenditures. Despite the relatively low spending on alcohol, 22.4% of adults in NYC drink excessively, and 17.5% of fatal car accidents in the city involve alcohol. New York is ranked thirtieth among the most drunk large cities in the U.S.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is a historic city located on the shores of Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The city is home to many major corporations and research universities like Washington University and St. Louis University.
Residents of St. Louis spend $789 annually on alcohol, which is 1.11% of their total expenditure. 11% of fatal and serious injury crashes in St. Louis involved alcohol. Alcohol impairment is one of the most common causes of car accidents in St. Louis.