Holiday Drinks Courtesy: Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
As the year wraps up and gift-giving season is in full effect (get it), apparently Floridians like to “cheers” and clink more than most of their neighbors.
According to a survey conducted by SunriseHouse, an addiction treatment center out of Lafayette Township, NJ, which provides research-based programs and services for individuals struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, found Florida rings in the Yuletide season a bit harder than most.
The data revealed that the average Florida resident consumes four alcoholic beverages per day during the season. This places Florida in a tie for 4th place in the U.S.
Generally, the rule of thumb is 1 serving of alcohol is equal to 1 oz. of 100 proof liquor/50 percent alcohol-by-volume (ABV), a 12 oz. beer, or 4 oz. of table wine. The specificity behind what beverages are consumed during the season was not revealed, but legally speaking, the type of beverage consumed in a sitting varies in serving size.
Survey says the average American consumes three alcoholic beverages per day throughout the season, meaning Floridians have one more than the average. The news comes just weeks after two Florida State Senators proposed a bill to allow “to-go” alcohol orders to assist struggling businesses. SunriseHouse surveyed 3,000 Americans (aged 21+) to formulate a list of the heaviest drinking states.
North Dakota took the crown on the list, coming in first with the average resident consuming eight beverages a day during the boozy season. Comparatively, Alaska, Kansas, Idaho, and its southern neighbor of South Dakota drank two per day equalling North Dakota’s daily total.
Fast Facts:
- 19 states reported having 4 drinks per day (one over the daily American average)
- 3 states reported having 5 drinks per day (two over the daily American average)
- 1 state reported having 6 drinks per day (three over the daily American average)
- 1 state recorded having 8 drinks per day (five over the daily American average)
- The average American admits they drink 27% more during the festive season as compared to the rest of the year.
- 27% of respondents drink stronger liquor during the festive season.
- 25% consider themselves a ‘heavy drinker’ during the holidays.
- 17% of people say they have a boozy breakfast on Christmas Day.
- 1 in 5 employees admit they drink every day that they are off work over the holidays.
“If you find yourself waking up with a hangover more days than not during the holidays, this might be a sign that you are overindulging. Overindulging in alcohol can be a bad habit that leads to dependence even after the holidays are over. It’s important to check-in with yourself and consider alternative ways to celebrate that are not centered around the consumption of alcohol,” said Brittney Morse, a spokesperson for Sunrise House Treatment Center and licensed advanced alcohol and drug counselor.
“After a long year of working from home due to social distancing regulations, many employees are likely looking forward to kicking back with a couple beers and taking it easy over the holiday season,” according to Sunrise House.
It is imperative that if you do choose to indulge in an alcoholic beverage over the holiday season, that you do so carefully and in a controlled setting. Remember that if you choose to drink, do so responsibly.
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
