How Does North Dakota Compare With The Nation's Drunkest States?

With the doldrums of winter upon us, some may feel there is little else to do to bide time besides tip back a few cold ones, but just much do we consume throughout the region?

24/7 Wall Street crunched the data found you and here is how we rank.

Minnesota Ranks 6th Nationally

Adults drinking excessively: 21.1%
Alcohol-related driving deaths: 30.9% (21st lowest)
Adults in fair or poor health: 11.9% (3rd lowest)
Drunkest metro area: Mankato-North Mankato, MN

One of the highest rates of excessive drinking of any state and significantly higher than the national average of 18% is seen in Minnesota, where 21.1% of individuals report binge or heavy drinking. Richer populations often have greater rates of excessive drinking, and Minnesota has a higher median household income than most states ($65,599), which is much more than the average annual income of $57,617.

Minnesota individuals appear to be in good health despite having a sizable adult population that regularly consumes alcohol in excess. With 262 premature deaths before the age of 75 for every 100,000 citizens, Minnesota has the lowest premature mortality rate of any state.

Montana Ranks 4th Nationally

Adults drinking excessively: 21.8%
Alcohol-related driving deaths: 46.3% (2nd highest)
Adults in fair or poor health: 14.2% (16th lowest)
Drunkest metro area: Missoula, MT

Alcohol-related driving fatalities are more common in states with greater rates of excessive drinking. Alcohol is a major contributing factor in traffic deaths, with the fourth highest percentage of adults bingeing or drinking heavily in Montana at 21.8%. The second highest percentage of any state, 46.3% of all traffic deaths in the state can be attributed to alcohol use.

North Dakota Ranks 1st Nationally

Adults drinking excessively: 24.7%
Alcohol-related driving deaths: 46.7% (the highest)
Adults in fair or poor health: 13.4% (9th lowest)
Drunkest metro area: Fargo, ND-MN

With approximately 25% of respondents reporting binge drinking or heavy drinking, North Dakota has the largest percentage of adults who use alcohol excessively. It should come as no surprise that the state with the biggest drinking culture also has the highest number of fatal car accidents involving alcohol. Alcohol use causes 46.7% of all traffic deaths, which is substantially higher than the 30% national average.

Regularly drinking too much alcohol is unhealthy. Despite the state's above average rates of smoking and obesity, 13.4% of adults say they are in fair or poor health.

The state that claims the spot for biggest teetotaler is Tennessee.