Changing The Culture of Alcohol in Wisconsin
Alcohol is a part of the Wisconsin culture. Year-after-year, different articles tell the same story. For example, in 2022, the website 24/7 Wall St ranked Wisconsin as the nation’s “drunkest” state based on self-reporting, with 25.2% of Wisconsin adults drinking excessively. In 2021, a map showing the 50 most heavily drinking counties in the entire United States included 41 counties right here in Wisconsin (you’ll be glad to know Jackson County was not highlighted, but several bordering counties were). EVERY county in Wisconsin has a higher rate of excessive alcohol use than the national average. Wisconsin is the only state that can make this claim. Clearly Wisconsin has a problem.
Unfortunately, while some people reading this article may be appalled by these numbers, there are also many Wisconsinites who see these numbers as bragging rights. Even those who are not proud of Wisconsin’s drinking culture often accept that this is just the way it is in Wisconsin.
Binge drinking is defined as a woman having 4 or more drinks, or a man having 5 or more drinks, in a 2-hour period. Wisconsin residents are among the least likely in the nation to consider binge drinking to be a risky behavior, and over 1/3 of adults in Wisconsin report binge drinking in the past 30 days. Binge drinking in Wisconsin costs almost $4 billion a year.
Jackson County data from the 2019 report, The Burden of Binge Drinking in Wisconsin, estimated the annual economic cost of binge drinking to be $10.3 million for Jackson County, including $6.8 million in lost productivity and $1.5 million for the criminal justice system. Excessive alcohol consumption in Jackson County contributes to an average of 11 alcohol-related deaths per year, 305 alcohol-related hospitalizations, and 28 alcohol-related crashes.
Considering access to alcohol, in many states is it not common to have alcohol in gas stations, and if allowed, it is rarely available cold or as a single-serving container, both of which are common in Wisconsin. Considering alcohol licenses, in many states the number of liquor licenses available is around one license per 1500-3000 people. In Wisconsin, the state average is one liquor license per 354 people. Alcohol is very accessible in Wisconsin.
Data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that in Jackson County, 32% of high school students reported having drank alcohol within the past 30 days, 69% of high school students reported ever having an alcoholic beverage, and of those who drank, 44% engaged in binge drinking. Among the students who drank, 35% had their first drink before age 13.
This brief article has a lot of statistics and information that come together to tell one story. Drinking is often seen a part of the Wisconsin culture and there are consequences and costs that come with that. Consider how Jackson County can be part of the change to making Wisconsin healthier and safer for all of our residents. Possibly you can be a part of the solution by helping to change the culture of drinking right here in Jackson County.
Jackson County: Healthy People, Strong Community.
