Delaware is a small state, but we sure to put back a lot of alcohol. Did you know that Delaware is the 3rd drunkest state in the entire country? According to data collected by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) in 2014, Delaware is only beaten in terms of alcohol consumed per capita by New Hampshire (#1) and uh, Washington, D.C. (#2). Does D.C. even count? Does Delaware really deserve that #2 spot? Since I’m not exactly sure this is a statistic we should be proud of, I’ll let it slide.
How can such a small state consume so much? Well, the partying and drinking that goes on in our drunkest cities certainly helps.
Newark's Main Street is alive, from breakfast to the early hours of the morning, with students and professionals slamming back bloody marys, Natty Ice, and everything in between.
There is always something happening in Downtown Dover, and with a casino and annual NASCAR races bringing plenty of Delawareans out of hiding for a few nights of fun, it is no surprise that Dover was actually named the drunkest city in Delaware.
As a nation, it's a wonder we get anything done. On average, we consume 2,340 gallons of ethanol (pure alcohol) per capita a year. By poison, that equates to 1,120 gallons of beer, 420 gallons of wine and 800 gallons of spirits.
Total alcohol consumed per capita: 3,600 gallons
Wine consumed per capita: 720 gallons
Spirits consumed per capita: 1,630 gallons
The restaurant scene in Downtown Dover is one of the best in the area, and I'm so sure much of the 720 gallons of wine consumed (per capita) has been drank right on Loockerman Street.
Despite lower binge and heavy drinking rates than the state average, 15 compared to 17), the real tragedy in Dover is the heartbreaking rate of alcohol-related roadway fatalities. Nearly 47% of driving deaths in Dover involve alcohol, which is almost the highest percentage out of America's 381 metro areas. With services like Uber and Lyft available to anyone with a smartphone now, there's never any reason to drive home drunk. Please, be responsible and never get behind the wheel when you've been drinking.
With festivals, events, and super cool places like Oddity Bar, the Wilmington nightlife scene is alive and well - despite trouble in certain neighborhoods.
Of course, if the Dogfish Head Brewery was its own city – though sometimes I think it might be – it would has rounded off the list. It’s hard to write about drinking and not talk about Delaware’s most famous import. Have you been to the Dogfish Head Brewery Tour, or checked out their Steampunk Treehouse?
Please, Delaware, party responsibly! Don’t drink and drive, don’t drink to excess, and seek professional help if you believe your alcohol consumption is getting out of hand.
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Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
