Illinois is well-known for a wide range of things, including its lively cities, unique culture, rich history, and well-known sites. However, did you know that some of the nation’s biggest drinkers also reside in Illinois?
Illinois is sixth among the states with the greatest percentage of adult binge drinkers, as defined by the CDC as four or more drinks on a single occasion for women and five or more for men.
This information comes from a recent study. In Illinois, 21.2% of adults report binge drinking, which can have detrimental effects on one’s health and social standing.
The City With the Highest Rate of Alcohol Consumption in Illinois
The most binge drinkers, though, are found in which Illinois city? The information on numerous health indicators for each county in the country is provided by the 2020 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, which is where we need to look for the answers.
The percentage of adult respondents who report binge or heavy drinking—that is, drinking in excess—in each county is included in the study. The Illinois city with the highest rate of alcohol consumption can be found by comparing the data for the counties that house the state’s main cities.
Surprisingly, the outcomes. It is not Chicago, the biggest and most populated city in the state, but rather Bloomington, a relatively smaller community in central Illinois, where the highest percentage of adults report drinking excessively.
A little more than the state average and significantly higher than the 19.0% national average, over 21.8% of adults in Bloomington abuse alcohol to unhealthy levels. At 22.3% of adult residents, Bloomington is the county seat of McLean County, the most intoxicated county in Illinois.
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Reasons Behind Bloomington’s High Alcohol Consumption
Several reasons might contribute to the high alcohol consumption in the city. One factor is the presence of two major universities, Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University, with a combined student population of over 23,000.
College students tend to drink more than the general population, especially those aged 18 to 25, and binge drinking is common among them. Another factor is the economic and social stress faced by many residents, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased alcohol use and abuse among Americans.
A survey by Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, and Baltimore found that after March 1, 2020, 60.1% of participants reported drinking more alcohol, and 45.7% attributed it to increased stress.
To Conclude
In summary, Illinois has some good qualities, but the high binge drinking rates, especially in Bloomington, are worrying. The mix of young college students, financial stress, and a potential increase in alcohol problems due to the pandemic needs attention.
To tackle this issue, Bloomington and all of Illinois can consider different solutions. Making people more aware of the risks of drinking too much, offering easy access to mental health support, and creating communities that support healthy coping methods are important steps to reduce binge drinking and improve the well-being of everyone.
Only by focusing on these specific efforts can Illinois truly stand out, not just for its lively cities and history, but also for the health of its residents.
