Americans poured a staggering $228 billion into alcohol last year, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis.
SmartAsset’s analysis of that data shows how much the average adult over age 21 in each state spent on alcoholic beverages during the same period.
The study’s most eye-catching figure comes from Alaska, where the average adult spent roughly $1,250 on alcohol. The state as a whole spent about $675 million.
Below is the full ranking of states by per-adult alcohol spending, along with the total amount each state spent:
- Alaska: $1,249.76 per adult, $674.72 million total
- Wyoming: $1,237.84 per adult, $543.73 million total
- Colorado: $1,202.45 per adult, $5,435.64 million total
- Massachusetts: $1,185.54 per adult, $6,470.35 million total
- Rhode Island: $1,155.82 per adult, $988.86 million total
- New Hampshire: $1,119.73 per adult, $1,236.47 million total
- Oregon: $1,104.87 per adult, $3,638.18 million total
- Hawaii: $1,095.34 per adult, $1,213.49 million total
- Washington: $1,070.99 per adult, $6,455.210 million total
- Montana: $1,051.01 per adult, $906.411 million total
- Vermont: $1,039.04 per adult, $525.912 million total
- New Jersey: $1,037.31 per adult, $7,396.213 million total
- Virginia: $1,019.08 per adult, $6,702.914 million total
- California: $1,001.37 per adult, $29,466.815 million total
- New Mexico: $994.06 per adult, $1,592.316 million total
- Maine: $985.08 per adult, $1,092.817 million total
- Texas: $972.04 per adult, $21,704.418 million total
- Florida: $959.37 per adult, $17,332.219 million total
- Minnesota: $954.14 per adult, $4,077.720 million total
- Nevada: $949.91 per adult, $2,345.3 million total
When looking at total state spending, California topped the list with about $29 billion, followed by Texas at roughly $21 billion, Florida at $17 billion, and New York at $12 billion.
Conversely, North Dakota spent the least at $478 million, followed by Vermont at $526 million, South Dakota at $540 million, and Wyoming at $543 million.
The full study, including a detailed breakdown for every state, can be accessed on SmartAsset’s website.
Key Takeaways
- Alaska’s per-adult alcohol spend tops the nation at $1,250.
- California’s overall alcohol spending reaches $29 billion, the highest among all states.
- North Dakota records the lowest total alcohol spend at $478 million.
The data highlights significant variations in alcohol consumption costs across the United States, underscoring regional differences in drinking habits and pricing structures.
Readers interested in how their own state compares can visit SmartAsset’s full study to see the exact figures for their region.
