Iowa’s Binge Drinking Rate Remains The Nation’s Highest

The state of Iowa is recognized for many great reasons. We are leaders in agriculture. We're home to beautiful landscapes and sunsets. The state is full of small towns and main streets that remind you of simpler times. But Iowa continues to lead the nation in one ugly category too.

Iowa Ranks #1 in the Nation in Binge Drinking

Not exactly a statistic you shout from the rooftop, but it's true. The Des Moines Register reports that a recent study by the addiction resource website Find Recovery looked at the stats with the highest rates of binge drinking. It used data from the CDC from 2011 to 2023. The Register reports that the study found that Iowa leads the nation in binge drinking rate at 22.5%. While that rate is down slightly, Iowa is still the state with the highest percentage of adults who engage in excesive drinking.

What is the Definition of Binge Drinking? 

The Center for Disease and Control defines binge drinking as consuming five or more drinks in one sitting for men, or four or more drinks for women, according to the Register. One drink is defined as a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a drink with one shot of hard liquor.

What Other States Rank High in Binge Drinking?

The top five states for binge drinking are;

1. Iowa - 22.5%
2. North Dakota - 22.4%
3. Montana - 21.9%
4. South Dakota - 21.5%
5. Nebraska - 20.5%

Not a great look for Midwest states. As the Register points out, binge drinking can often be a sign of alcohol dependence or addiction. While there is no one size fits all way to help, there are people willing to listen.

If you believe you have a binge drinking problem, you can contact Your Life Iowa at 855-581-8111, or go to yourlifeiowa.org to chat with a trained counselor.

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