People in Ohio love to drink. A new study from 24/7 Wall St. says that 20.2% of people in Ohio, which is the 14th highest share in the country, say they drink too much. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that binge drinking and heavy drinking are both examples of excessive drinking. But which Ohio city has the most drinking?
Columbus is the Most Drunk City in Ohio.
You might be surprised by the answer. It’s not Cleveland, which is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Browns. It’s not Cincinnati, where Skyline Chili and the Cincinnati Reds got their start. And it’s not even Dayton, which RoadSnacks named the most drunk city in Ohio in 2015.
It’s Ohio’s center and biggest city, Columbus. According to statistics from 24/7 Wall St., 20.6% of adults in Columbus say they drink too much, which is the biggest percentage in the state. That’s more than the U.S. average and puts it 75th out of 384 major areas in the country.
Additionally, Columbus has a lot of bars and booze shops per person, which shows that alcohol is easy to get in the city. Yelp says that Columbus has 1,075 bars and 269 booze stores. That’s about 8.6 bars and 2.2 liquor stores for every 10,000 people who live there. There are more than 6.4 bars and 1.9 booze shops for every 10,000 people in the U.S.
Why Columbus Drinks So Much
Many things could be making Columbus drink so much. One reason is that there are a lot of different kinds of students. A lot of people go to Ohio State University, which is one of the biggest public schools in the country with more than 60,000 students. People in college are known to drink more than other people, especially at parties, social events, and sports games.
It’s also because of Columbus’s language and past. A lot of Germans moved to Columbus in the 1800s and early 1900s, giving the city a strong German history. They brought with them ways of making and drinking beer that can still be seen today in the city’s many breweries, beer parks, and beer events. Columbus also hosts Oktoberfest every year, which is a celebration of German food, music, and beer that brings in thousands of people.
A third reason is that some people who live in Columbus might feel stressed out and tired. There are some good things about Columbus, like how cheap and safe it is, but there are also some bad things, like crime, poverty, traffic, and pollution. Some people may drink to deal with these problems or to get away from the routine of their daily lives.
The Repercussions of Drinking an Excessive Amount
In balance, drinking can be enjoyable, but too much drinking can be very bad for both people and society as a whole. Many health problems, like liver disease, heart disease, cancer, and mental issues, are more likely to happen if you drink too much. It can also make it hard to make decisions and move around, which can lead to crashes, injuries, and rage. Also, drinking too much can hurt your personal and work relationships, as well as your finances and legal situation.
The CDC says that each year, drinking too much leads to about 95,000 deaths and the loss of 2.8 million years of possible life in the U.S. In 2010, it was thought that drinking too much cost the U.S. economy $249 billion, or $2.05 per drink. It was calculated that drinking too much costs Ohio $8.7 billion a year, or $2.32 a drink.
Conclusion
Columbus ranks first in Ohio in terms of excessive drinking, as indicated by 20.6% of adults who admitted to drinking excessively, which is higher than the national average. Stressors, the city’s thriving student body, and German cultural influence may all have contributed to this development.
Alcoholic excess has severe health, social, and economic repercussions, notwithstanding the cultural appreciation for alcohol. In light of the consequences, society must confront the multifaceted elements that influence alcohol consumption and advocate for the adoption of responsible drinking practices.