Montana Beer Consumption

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By Lindsey Scheetz

Story Published: Mar 21, 2010 at 6:04 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 22, 2010 at 10:37 AM MST

BILLINGS - Montana may have one of the smallest state populations, but when it comes to drinking this malt beverage, Big Sky Country has the largest number of fans.

A recent study finds residents of Montana drink the most beer per capita than our counterparts in any other state. The annual study, conducted by the Beer Institute, calculates average consumption by comparing the number of people 21 and over to the amount of beer delivered to that state. The organization puts the Treasure State in first place, saying the average Montanan consumes 43 ½ gallons of beer every year.

"That's high. I don't think there's that many beer drinkers. I don't drink that much beer. Neither does my husband," Bozeman resident Michelle Kandel said. Billings resident Nacho Stanford was excited about the statistics. "Props to Montana! Yay us!"

But not everyone is celebrating. Patrol sergeant Craig Baum with the Montana Highway Patrol said drinking is a serious problem in the state.

"Over the last 18 months we've had 2 of the 3 troopers killed in the line of duty were killed by drunk drivers, Montana has one of the highest alcohol related fatality rates in the country."

Baum said he sees first hand the damage Montana's addiction to alcohol can cause nearly every day.

"Unfortunately when you get called to a fatality crash the odds of that and one or somebody being involved in it being intoxicated is pretty high."

Billings residents say consumption rates are probably high because alcohol is easy to get.

"Its probably more easy than it should be," Todd Kintz said. "We start at a young age, we have nothing else to do and so it just continues throughout our entire life," Stanford said.

But no matter the reason, Baum said Montana's drinking problem is complicated and doesn't have an easy fix.

The study estimates more than 7 billion gallons of beer are consumed nationwide. Other states that ranked high included New Hampshire, Nevada, Wyoming and North Dakota.

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CG said on Tuesday, Mar 23 at 1:29 PM

As much as I love my home state I have to say the drinking problem is out of control. The only thing more disappointing is our education system. I am able to buy a 30 case of beer for 15 bucks, but I'm not entitled to a high standard of education. Nor, one that offers me proper guidance and opportunities to do more with my time than drink on the weekends. A strongly feel raising the sin tax on alcohol would do wonders for our state. Not only will the accessibility of alcohol go down, but money can be allocated to raising wages for teachers (so our best and brightest's opportunity cost of becoming a teacher would be worth it)and we could finally provide proper funding for after school activities that promote leadership and a health lifestyle.

Mary said on Monday, Mar 22 at 8:51 AM

I forgot to mention, here in Roberts, they plan to hold a "Bullpen harley rally" with four bars and forty thousand tickets sold and eleven bands this summer. Guess how many drunk drivers will be on the road for that one and how many innocent people will pay for it with their lives and their futures. God help our families here in Roberts because no one else gives a crap about our children or our lives. Money is all they care about any way they can get it.

Mary said on Monday, Mar 22 at 8:46 AM

There are three crosses at the end of my driveway. A drunk motorcycle rally harley rider drove his bike through the front window of an oncoming car. He killed a dad and a two year old little boy as well as himself. Mom was left pregnant with her little girl with half of her family dead. I am reminded of it everyday as my husband and our lives were also shattered by an uninsured drunk driver. We were insured against this kind of tragedy, or so we thought. I have fought with our medical insurance provider for twenty years just to keep my husbands prescriptions coming and paid for. Our insurance provider has changed companies, addresses and phone numbers and I have literally had to chase them down to recover our benefits every way possible. We get a new representative every three months and no one reads our file. All they try to do is cut our paid for benefits. No coverage for me for the care I have to provide daily for my husbands care or what this did to my life and what we live with.

pieboy said on Monday, Mar 22 at 8:02 AM

In other news: for every gallon of beer the average montanan drinks, Judge Judy pulls in just over a million smackeroos. (forbes,com)

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