La Crosse, sixth-drunkest city in U.S.

Region ranks No. 1 in bars per resident

La Crosse’s reputation of heavy drinking showed up once again in a recent study.

The city came in as the sixth drunkest in the country, according to 247wallst.com.

La Crosse did come in No. 1 in bars per resident. According to the report, the La Crosse region – which would include parts of Minnesota, as well – has 6.9 bars for every 10,000 residents, more than any other U.S. metro area. 

As for the Top 10 drunkest cities, every one of them in the Top 10 was from the midwest. The Top 4 were Wisconsin towns – Appleton being No. 1. – and seven of the Top 10 were Wisconsin.

The study used self-reported binge and heavy drinking rates, percentage of crashes caused by alcohol and the number of bars per capita. 

Christie Davids from Gundersen Health System in La Crosse says she is hoping to change the perception.

“We’re having conversations about it,” she said. “And they can’t make changes as we turn a blind eye. 

“If we act like this is just the way it is, and that’s the norm, that’s what’s going to be our norm.”

She hopes community organizations, collaborating together can help change the people’s attitudes when it comes to drinking.

“Our big thing is you don’t have to always drink to have fun,” Davids said. “(Alcohol doesn’t) need to be the focal point of why we get together for a celebration.  

“Binge drinking on a regular basis is not a normal thing, it’s not a healthy thing.’