According to official data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), New Hampshire has been named the beer capital of America. Furthermore, interactive maps reveal that the North East, West Coast, and Midwest regions consume the most alcohol, with lower rates in the South, which is linked to higher rates of religious belief. Washington D.C. consumes the most wine, followed by New Hampshire, Delaware, Vermont, and California. While these states, which are mostly in the North or on the West Coast, are known for their wine consumption, it is their affluence, rather than their location, that seems to be the driving factor. Meanwhile, the South has a higher proportion of people that do not drink due to religious beliefs. Interestingly, individuals in rural areas appear to abuse alcohol more than their urban counterparts, according to a Lancet review. These alcohol consumption trends come on top of the well-known health risks that come with heavy drinking, including an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and dementia.
