Winston and Surrounding Counties Drink Less Alcohol

By HBTV
Thursday, May 7, 2015 | 6:05 AM
https://hbtv.us/news/?story_id=2623

According to a report published by the Washington Post, the consumption of alcohol in the United States has been on the rise. The report was released by the Institute on Health Metrics and Evaluation. This report not only pointed out that Alabama has one of the lowest levels of heavy drinkers, but it also breaks it down into how the counties faired. For the purpose of the report, women who drank more than one drink per day, and men who drank more than two, are considered heavy drinkers.

Winston County made the top 9 list of counties with the fewest heavy drinkers. That appears to be a good thing. The five counties with the fewest heavy drinkers were Northwest Alabama counties, including Winston and four surrounding counties. The other four were in South or Central Alabama. 

1.   Lawrence County – 3.8 percent
2. Cullman County – 3.9 percent
3. Lamar County – 3.9 percent
4.  Franklin County – 4.1 percent
5. Marion County – 4.1 percent
6. Pickens County – 4.5 percent
7.      Washington County – 4.5 percent
8. DeKalb County – 4.6 percent
9. Winston County – 4.7 percent

The heaviest drinking counties were in the more populated areas of the state. No surprise there, but the list does not include the Huntsville area where the income and educational level is the highest. 

1. Baldwin County – 9.3
2. Montgomery County – 8.4 percent
3. Lee County – 8.3 percent
4. Macon County – 7.8 percent
5. Pike County – 7.8 percent
6. Mobile County – 7.7 percent
7. Shelby County – 7.6 percent
8. Jefferson County – 7.1 percent
9. Elmore County – 7.1