Cheers! We're not number three in binge-drinking

The report in today's Rocky Mountain News was a real eye-opener (and we're not talking a Bloody Mary): According to Bill Scanlan's "State fades a little in health stats," Colorado fell from the 16th to the 19th healthiest state in the latest report from America's Health Rankings, largely because of a rise...

By Patricia Calhoun

December 4, 2008

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The report in today's Rocky Mountain News was a real eye-opener (and we're not talking a Bloody Mary): According to Bill Scanlan's "State fades a little in health stats," Colorado fell from the 16th to the 19th healthiest state in the latest report from America's Health Rankings, largely because of a rise in binge-drinking, "ranking the state in third of the nation."

That garbled stat was enough to send us to the web site for more info. And good news! We're not third in the nation for binge-drinking, but in the top third of the nation. (The language is clearer in the web version of the News story.)

Colorado actually ranks 15th for binge-drinking -- way behind Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin. So drink up!

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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