How Much Americans Spend on Alcohol, by State

Alaska primed for a Natural Wine Fair ?

Alcohol spending in the United States varies widely from state to state, shaped by a mix of cultural norms, climate, income levels, and access to healthcare and addiction services. A visualization by Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti

highlights these differences by mapping how much adults spend on alcoholic beverages across all 50 states.

The results reveal clear regional patterns—and a few surprises.

Alaska Leads the Nation in Alcohol Spending

Alaska ranks first by a wide margin, with adults spending nearly $1,250 on alcohol in 2024. Several factors help explain the state’s outsized total. Geographic isolation and long, harsh winters can contribute to higher consumption, while limited access to healthcare and addiction support services may exacerbate alcohol-related challenges. On top of that, transportation costs significantly raise alcohol prices, inflating overall spending even further.

Wyoming and Colorado follow closely behind Alaska, with both states reporting alcohol spending above $1,200 per adult.

High-Spending States Cluster in the West and Northeast

A broader look at the rankings shows that many of the highest-spending states are concentrated in the Western and Northeastern U.S. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire all rank in the top 10, alongside Oregon and Washington. These states tend to have higher costs of living and, in some cases, cultural norms that support more frequent alcohol consumption.

States such as California, New Jersey, and Vermont also land near the top, each reporting average annual alcohol spending above $1,000 per adult.

Utah Spends the Least on Alcohol

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Utah reports the lowest alcohol spending per adult, at just over $600 per year. The state’s large religious population, particularly members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with stricter alcohol laws, plays a major role in keeping both consumption and spending well below the national average.

Lower Spending in the South and Midwest

Several Southern and Midwestern states fall near the bottom of the rankings, including West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. In these regions, lower average incomes, stricter alcohol regulations, and more conservative cultural attitudes toward drinking all contribute to reduced alcohol spending.