Molly Martin
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Coloradans are known for their love of the outdoors almost as much as for their love for drinking, from frequenting craft breweries to hitting up favorite dive bars. But the times, they are a-changin’.
There have been a lot of headlines lately about people, especially younger generations, drinking less, which has had an impact on both the craft beer and spirits markets, while sparking a slew of new N/A beverage options. But a new study from SmartAsset notes that Coloradans are still drinking more than most people in the country, with the state ranking third in alcohol consumption based on what the average adult spent on alcoholic beverages for private consumption in 2024.
According to the study, Colorado adults spend an average of $1,202 per capita on alcohol. The only two states that rank higher: Alaska ($1,250 per capita) and Wyoming ($1,238). That leaves Colorado just about one nice bottle of whiskey per person away from the top spot.
The Mile High City plays a leading role in Colorado’s boozy reputation. In 2021, a report from sports-betting company OLBG named Denver the booziest city in America. The next year, it was fourth in Clever’s roundup of the drunkest cities. But drinking habits have been shifting in the state overall. In August, we reported that Colorado was among the top states to see a significant drop in drinking, according to an analysis of 2023 data by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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The SmartAsset study echoes those numbers, noting that Colorado actually had the most significant drop in spending per capita of any state, at 1.15 percent since 2023. The data shows a drop in only three other states (Indiana, Massachusetts and Utah), while most states actually increased in per capita spending on alcohol, led by Montana and Maryland.
These numbers don’t account for drinks at bars or breweries, though, and adults in Colorado are still hitting the sauce harder at home than most, too….
And that doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon.
