Is Binge Drinking Becoming An Issue? Over 27% of South Dakotans Admit To It In Past Month

It's a startling statistic when you just look at the number: 27.37% of South Dakota residents admit to binge drinking within the past 30 days, placing us 4th in the country. In fact, with just a little 'work' we could pass North Dakota for the #2 spot at 27.96%.

Bloomberg recently conducted the survey to crown the drunkest areas in the country

Now to be fair, Bloomberg terms 'binge drinking' as having at least five alcoholic beverages in one sitting.  Now think back over the past month. Have you attended any parties where the cocktails were going down better than they should? A late summer evening with friends around the campfire? Maybe a birthday bash with great friends? I admit it, when I get together with the family of friends I have, there are times that six pack I brought along mysteriously disappears. I'm always smart about not driving if I have a little too much 'fun', but really when you think about it, five is not a big scary number to constitute 'binge' drinking.

That being said, there's not many places that out drink us:

The District of Columbia comes in at #1 with a whopping 30.1% and if you were in national politics these days, you'd drink too!

North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Wisconsin round out the top 5.

Oh, and you Minnesotans (my home state) and Iowans, don't get holier than thou about us drinkers. Minnesota is #6 while Iowa is #7.

And with winter deciding to show up early with unseasonably cold temps for long stretches, a hot toddy or some Bailey's Irish Creme in my coffee is sounding better and better.