Dry January or Not, Montana Ranks Among Top States for Alcohol Spending
How's dry January treating you so far? Have you abided by it so far, or are you like me, and failed less than a week into the new year?
You can still cut back on your drinking even if you failed dry January. Your liver and bank account will thank you, because going to the bars on a weekly basis will rack up charges — especially in Montana.
Montana Is One Of The States That Spends The Most On Alcohol
Visual Capitalist published a study that analyzed how much each American spends on alcohol. The data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024).
"Americans spent an average of $898 per adult on alcohol in 2024, with wide variation by state." - Visual Capitalist
On average, Montanans spent $1,100 on alcohol in 2024, which is one of the highest spending amounts in the country. Montana was the 10th highest state in alcohol spending. Washington, Hawaii, Oregon, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Colorado, Wyoming and Alaska were the 9 states above the Treasure State.
It's noteworthy because the nation is drinking less than ever, and that trend rings true for Montana as well. Though Montana still drinks more than most of the nation.
READ MORE: Is Montana Drinking Less As The Rest of America Cuts Back?
Idaho averaged out to $731 a year, North Dakota was at $823 and South Dakota checked in at $805.
Washington and Oregon were both over $1,000 a year.
READ MORE: How Warm Do Montanans Keep Their Homes During Winter?