Study Ranks Wyoming Second In Country For Alcohol Spending, Colorado Third
A new study by giggster.com shows Wyoming second in the nation in annual per-capita spending on alcohol. at $1,237 per person.
That was only a little behind first place Alaska, which checked in at $1,249 per person per year.
Here is the entire top 10 according to giggster
| 1 | Alaska | $1.249 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Wyoming | $1.237 |
| 3 | Colorado | $1.202 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $1.185 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $1.155 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $1.119 |
| 7 | Oregon | $1.104 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $1.095 |
| 9 | Washington | $1.070 |
| 10 | Montana | $1.051 |
The survey notes a trend in the results:
The Western states of Alaska (No. 1), Wyoming (No. 2), and Colorado (No. 3) rank among the top 10 states for alcohol spending, each at about $300 above the nationwide average of $900.
Utah is the lowest alcohol-spending state nationwide, at about $600 per person annually.
Alcohol spending ranges from about $600 to $1.2K per person annually, a spread of roughly $650 between the lowest- and highest-spending states
Utah's ranking is probably not a surprise in view of the prevalence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormons as they are commonly known. That religion strongly discourages the consumption of alcohol.
According to the website, Giggster scored all 50 states based on their performance across three metrics, producing an overall Nightlife spending index. Using the most recent data available, the rankings provide a timely view of which states look best positioned for nightlife spending in 2026.
Alcohol Consumption Is Declining Nationally
It does seem that alcohol consumption is declining nationally. A Gallup poll last summer found that only 54 percent of people surveyed drink alcohol, the lowest percentage in the history of the poll. As recently as 2023 that number was at 63 percent.
The same poll from last summer found that 53 percent of Americans believe even moderate alcohol consumption is harmful. That change of opinion seems to reflect the views of the medical community.
As this 2025 report from Stanford University details. it was long thought that moderate drinking had some health benefits, including heart health. But newer research calls that into question and seems to show that even moderate alcohol consumption poses health risks.
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