(Greater Dakota News Service)- According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, South Dakota is among the top 10 states with the highest alcohol consumption per capita. And, a new Iowa State University study found women make up a higher percentage of people who drink than in past generations.
Lead researcher Susan Stewart says the highest alcohol use is among women who are white, middle-class and college-educated. She says her findings mirror data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing life expectancy is on the decline for the first time since World War I.
While women still drink less than men, Stewart says anecdotal factors for the increase include greater economic independence and more exposure to working environments where alcohol is part of the culture. She says companies selling alcohol also market to women more aggressively, promoting wines with names like “Mad Housewife” and flavored vodkas that appeal to women.
The 2018 “top ten” rankings showed residents of Western states have increased their alcohol use the most, by 1.7%, compared to .5% in the Midwest. Overall, Stewart’s study showed 52% of women reported drinking about seven days in the last month, averaging just over two drinks a day.
