Illinoisans Drank the Alcoholic Equivalent of 204 Chicago Water Towers Over Winter, Research Reveals.

• Study measures how many standard alcoholic drinks Illinoisans drank over the past winter.
• They drank 564,916,365 alcoholic drinks.
• Infographic included.

This past winter delivered a heavy dose of stress for many Americans. With grocery prices refusing to budge, housing costs steadily rising, and the buzz of election season amplifying the tension, it’s no surprise people felt the strain. For some, the answer to this mounting pressure came in the form of a stiff drink – or several. Alcohol, a well-worn if not always wise coping tool, saw a noticeable uptick in use across the country.

To dig into this trend, MyBioSource conducted a survey of 3,003 adults, asking a straightforward question: 

“How many units of alcohol did you consume over the winter months?”

By breaking down the responses and calculating average weekly intake, they mapped out alcohol consumption state by state, revealing some striking patterns.

Topping the list was Louisiana, where residents averaged 234 standard drinks over the season – about 18 per week. That’s enough to fill 1,605 Mardi Gras floats, a fitting image for a state known for its festive spirit. New Hampshire and Wyoming tied for second, with their residents each averaging 208 standard drinks. On the lighter side, Alaskans proved the most restrained, sipping just 39 standard drinks – or roughly 3 per week – perhaps too busy braving the cold to overindulge. 

But when it came to total volume, sheer population size tipped the scales. Californians downed a staggering 1,749,737,155 standard drinks, equivalent to 2,733,964 Napa Valley wine barrels. Floridians weren’t far behind, polishing off 912,675,212 standard drinks – enough to fill over 42 million beach buckets, a nod to spring breakers’ preferred vessel. New Yorkers rounded out the top three, consuming 896,229,951 standard drinks, or enough to fill the Statue of Liberty 324 times.

When it comes to the Prairie state, Illinoisans collectively drank a whopping 564,916,365 standard alcoholic drinks (or 50,882,695 gallons). This was enough to fill the equivalent of 204 Chicago Water Towers. The state came in 26th nationwide when it comes to per capita drinking.

The survey didn’t stop at numbers – it also explored the why and how behind the drinking. Nearly half of respondents, 48%, said socializing with friends or family was their main reason for pouring a glass, while 22% tied their drinking to holiday celebrations. Coping with stress or anxiety drove 12% to drink, 13% cited boredom or habit, and 5% simply wanted to keep warm. As for what they were sipping, wine led the pack at 34%, followed by beer at 30%, spirits like vodka or whiskey at 28%, and ready-to-drink cocktails or seltzers trailing at 8%.

Did it work? Opinions were split: 48% felt alcohol helped them manage stress effectively, while 52% disagreed. Binge drinking popped up too – 41% reported consuming 1–3 drinks as their max in a single day, but 16% hit 4–6 drinks, 9% reached 7–10, and 5% downed 11 or more. Twenty-nine percent abstained entirely. 

Solitary drinking was less common, with 68% saying they didn’t drink alone more than three times in a week, though 32% admitted they did. Emotions played a role as well: 39% drank to celebrate, 15% out of boredom, 12% due to anxiety, 5% from loneliness, and 29% again said they didn’t drink at all.

Infographic showing total number of drinks consumed over winter in each state

Reflecting on the findings, a MyBioSource spokesperson offered some perspective: “These numbers show how deeply tied alcohol is to our social lives and personal struggles. It’s striking to see such a range—from celebration to stress relief—driving consumption this winter. We hope this sparks a conversation about balance and healthier ways to cope when life gets tough.”