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GBRulz
08-24-2006, 01:13 PM
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=487336

It's Brew City for a reason
Forbes.com taps Milwaukee as America's drunkest city
By VIKKI ORTIZ
vortiz@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 23, 2006

Drunkest Cities
1. Milwaukee
2. Minneapolis-St. Paul
3. Columbus, Ohio
4. Boston
5. Austin, Texas
6. Chicago
7. Cleveland
8. Pittsburgh
9. Philadelphia (tie)
9. Providence, R.I. (tie)
More on Forbes.com

Doug Knueppel takes a swig from his third beer Wednesday at G-Daddys BBC on E. North Ave. Knueppel says he will drink as many as 10 to 12 beers and two to three shots on a Saturday night.

Depends on whom you ask.

On Tuesday, Forbes.com named Milwaukee "America's Drunkest City" on a list of 35 major metropolitan areas ranked for their drinking habits. The report put Brew City way above stereotypical party towns Las Vegas (No. 14) and Miami (No. 33) and warned of the "serious trouble" Milwaukee could experience based on its alcohol consumption.

"It's not necessarily the end of the world to rank high on this list, but it certainly should be an amount of concern for civic leaders," said David M. Ewalt, who wrote the story for the business Web site.

But there's a difference between being a town of belchers on bar stools and a city with a drinking culture, some Milwaukee residents argued Wednesday.

"I don't remember the last time I got wasted, but I have a drink every other day," said Chase Brandon, 32, the kitchen manager at G-Daddy's BBC, a popular east side bar at 2022 E. North Ave.

Brandon estimated that the bar would sell 900 cans of Pabst beer between 7 and 10 p.m. as part of its Wednesday night $1 Pabst / $1.75 burger special. Yet partaking in a special and being a drunk are two different things, he said.

"The people who are drunks, honestly, don't get served here," Brandon said. "If you can't hold your head up and if you can't walk straight, you get shown to the door."

To compile the list, a first for Forbes.com, staff writers used numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rank cities in five areas: state laws, number of drinkers, number of heavy drinkers, number of binge drinkers and alcoholism.

In each of those categories, Milwaukee came out near the top. More than 70% of adult Milwaukeeans reported that they had at least one alcoholic drink within the past 30 days. That compares with Nashville, Tenn., which ranked at the bottom of the list at No. 35, where only 45% of the residents had a recent drink.

The list also cited the fact that 22% of Milwaukee respondents confessed to binge drinking, or having five or more drinks on one occasion.

Residents may be quick to dismiss such rankings based on other awards the city's seen - from fifth Fittest City in America by Men's Fitness magazine in January to 17th Best City for Singles by Forbes last month.

But Milwaukee does have other undeniable drinking statistics.

In the city of Milwaukee, there are more than 1,000 outlets for beer, wine and liquor, according to the city's License Division. These include about 978 locations with Class B tavern licenses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Milwaukee in 2002 had 261 taverns and 67 liquor stores. Those 328 businesses generated more than $148 million in sales, or about $250 for every man, woman and child who lived in the city that year. And that doesn't include alcohol that was sold at grocery stores, gas stations or restaurants.

Or how about this: In the past year, Brew City Beer Gear Inc., which has a store at the Grand Avenue, has sold more than 100,000 T-shirts with the words "Beer: Now Cheaper Than Gas" printed across the front, mostly to Wisconsin residents.

"It's unbelievable," said Frank Keppler, co-owner of the company.

Still, officials at Visit Milwaukee, the area's convention and visitors bureau, contend that the city has come a long way in ridding itself of its "Laverne & Shirley"/beer-guzzling image. Milwaukeeans have plenty of other ways to entertain themselves that don't involve drinking alcohol, said Dave Fantle, spokesman for Visit Milwaukee.

Since 1998, the city has spent $1.5 billion in tourism-related infrastructure, including a new convention center, the Milwaukee Art Museum expansion, a casino expansion and a new baseball park.

"We've gone from Brew City to new city," he said.

Less offended, DeMeyer, who celebrated his birthday at G-Daddy's BBC on Wednesday, said he could understand the Forbes.com ranking.

"I have had people stay with me from London and Chicago, and they can't get over how much liquor we can hold and how much we drink," DeMeyer said. "I guess we do."

Jesse Garza and Steven Potter of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report

Partial
08-24-2006, 01:14 PM
heh, I was gonna post that last night when I read that. Astounding!

the_idle_threat
08-24-2006, 01:15 PM
I'll drink to that! IN YOUR FACE, Minneapolis-St. Paul!!! :razz: :razz: :razz:

CyclonePackFan
08-24-2006, 01:56 PM
Drunkest Cities
1. Milwaukee <--------------------Germans
2. Minneapolis-St. Paul <---------German/Scandanavians, also trying to forget about the Vikings
3. Columbus, Ohio <-------------Already celebrating their 2007 national title (I don't f***in think so!), also college town
4. Boston <----------------------- Irish
5. Austin, Texas <----------------STILL celebrating their national title, also college town
6. Chicago <----------------------Only way they can remember what it feels like to have a Super Bowl Champion
7. Cleveland <-------------------Only way they can remember what it feels like to have a good football team
8. Pittsburgh <-------------------STILL celebrating the Super Bowl
9. Philadelphia (tie) <-----------Celebrating that T.O. left
9. Providence, R.I. (tie) <--------I'd drink too if I lived in R.I., also Peter Griffin (let's drink until we can't feel feelings anymore =D)

The list also cited the fact that 22% of Milwaukee respondents confessed to binge drinking, or having five or more drinks on one occasion.
^-------------This right here is the biggest bullshit definition of all time. Honestly, if binge drinking is "five or more drinks on one occasion", over half of America plus over 75% of college students are binge drinkers. Considering we're also the fattest country in the world and five drinks (considering they probably would count water-beer like Keystone or Milwaukee's Best Light as a "drink") doesn't make a dent in many people, they really need to redo this. This is why our motto for Spring Break was "Binge Drink Responsibly" :lol:

FavreChild
08-24-2006, 02:02 PM
Great list of the top 10 cities in America.

Zool
08-24-2006, 02:10 PM
Apparently they've never been to LaCrosse?

jack's smirking revenge
08-24-2006, 02:24 PM
I just read an article about Mpls/StPaul's standing as #2 in a a local paper. There's a bit of a tizzy here about that because the city doesn't see itself as one with a drinking problem. In fact, I think people are kind of confused by the ranking.

Honestly, I don't see it. But, hey, I really only go out when my band plays, so I'm not the best person to ask.

Congrats Milwaukee! Not only are you the dirtiest city I know, but you're the drunkest!

tyler

HarveyWallbangers
08-24-2006, 02:43 PM
I'm proud of you Milwaukee! In your face Chicago!

Iron Mike
08-24-2006, 02:50 PM
Apparently they've never been to LaCrosse?

YAY!! Oktoberfest in La Crosse!!!!

http://www.remax-firstchoice-onwi.com/images/octoberfest.jpg

CaptainKickass
08-24-2006, 03:19 PM
I've never been more proud of being born in Milwaukee!!


:mrgreen: :D

GBRulz
08-24-2006, 03:51 PM
I just read an article about Mpls/StPaul's standing as #2 in a a local paper. There's a bit of a tizzy here about that because the city doesn't see itself as one with a drinking problem. In fact, I think people are kind of confused by the ranking.

Honestly, I don't see it. But, hey, I really only go out when my band plays, so I'm not the best person to ask.

Congrats Milwaukee! Not only are you the dirtiest city I know, but you're the drunkest!

tyler

Dirtiest city? Obviously you've never been through Gary, Indiana.

Tony Oday
08-24-2006, 03:54 PM
I call BS on LaCrosse in College EVERYONE is drunk at Winona State :) Heck there is a bar on every fricken corner :) Oh and we beat a bunch of guys from Lacrosse that I went to HS with in a keg race :)

HarveyWallbangers
08-24-2006, 04:42 PM
Dirtiest city? Obviously you've never been through Gary, Indiana.

I've been to a lot of cities a lot more dirty than Milwaukee--East St. Louis, Gary, Memphis, Kansas City, Birmingham to name just a few. It's weird. I've only been to Milwaukee twice, and I thought it was pretty nice. I know it smells like chocolate, but that's okay.

Partial
08-24-2006, 05:01 PM
I call BS on LaCrosse in College EVERYONE is drunk at Winona State :) Heck there is a bar on every fricken corner :) Oh and we beat a bunch of guys from Lacrosse that I went to HS with in a keg race :)

I have heard a legend that La Crosse has more bars per citizen than any other city. Any truth to that?

Badgepack
08-24-2006, 05:18 PM
Down here in the bible belt, living in a city of 33,000 people, we have a total of 4 bars.

CaptainKickass
08-24-2006, 05:23 PM
[quote=Tony Oday]
I have heard a legend that La Crosse has more bars per citizen than any other city. Any truth to that?

Naaahh - I think that stat is for Wisconsin having more bars per person than any other state. Or was it twice as many bars as churches? Crap - I can't recall.

Anyone?

Beuller? Beuller?

Scott Campbell
08-24-2006, 07:02 PM
I often wonder if I'd still be drinking like a fish if I still lived there. It's not much of an issue here in Utah.

oregonpackfan
08-24-2006, 07:45 PM
As a Marquette University grad I would have to agree about Milwaukee's drinking status!

I was more than a sociological observer. I was a participant!

OPF

FavreChild
08-24-2006, 07:47 PM
Downtown Milwaukee is pretty pristine.

Maybe not South Milwaukee or West Milwaukee...but no one better talk any smack about my fair city!!

Rastak
08-24-2006, 07:52 PM
Dirtiest city? Obviously you've never been through Gary, Indiana.

I've been to a lot of cities a lot more dirty than Milwaukee--East St. Louis, Gary, Memphis, Kansas City, Birmingham to name just a few. It's weird. I've only been to Milwaukee twice, and I thought it was pretty nice. I know it smells like chocolate, but that's okay.

Downtown was a bit dirty and had a few beggers but overall I liked downtown Milwaukee, which is the only part I saw when I was there.

GBRulz
08-24-2006, 08:21 PM
As a Marquette University grad I would have to agree about Milwaukee's drinking status!

I was more than a sociological observer. I was a participant!

OPF

My nephew just moved into his dorm yesterday! Poor kid is going to be in for some culture shock seeing he's lived in this small town of Three Lakes all his life!

Fosco33
08-24-2006, 09:04 PM
I've never been more proud of being born in Milwaukee!!


:mrgreen: :D

I'm with you! Except the town I lived in had the highest underage drinking rate in WI - thus allowing unlimited OT for cops to bust kids - I wonder that ranks on some sort of scale... in the running for drunkest worldwide (catch the Lebowski reference). Very nice... :mrgreen:

red
08-24-2006, 09:48 PM
i'll insert a little lewis black humor here. it fits well i think

"I love Wisconsin. I love coming here. I perform here a lot, because I've discovered that you people apparently have some sort of federal grant for drinking. It's - you're insane! You pay less for liquor than anybody I know anywhere in the country. Nobody pays less for liquor than you! What'd you, wh- ho- HOW? I don't know if you're using that farm subsidy money, or if you're just hijacking liquor trucks, but this f@ckin' insane.

(from the audience) "It's volume Lewis!"

Is it volume? It's unbe-f@ckin'-lievable. It's staggering! I come here 'cause basically if I spend four days here drinking, even with the plane ticket it's cheaper than drinkin' in New York! How do you know when it's New Year's? That's the big mystery to me! What's the difference? I've been in bars here, and it's like New Year's every f@ck night! Oh, New Year's, that's when w-w-we drink with hats on. Now I've been drunker here than anyplace else I've been in my life. And remember this: you are not, you are not alcoholics. You, and my hat is off, are professionals"

oregonpackfan
08-24-2006, 10:12 PM
As a Marquette University grad I would have to agree about Milwaukee's drinking status!

I was more than a sociological observer. I was a participant!

OPF

My nephew just moved into his dorm yesterday! Poor kid is going to be in for some culture shock seeing he's lived in this small town of Three Lakes all his life!

I can certainly relate, GBrulz. When I entered my first dorm of McCormick Hall on 16th and Wisconsin Ave., I was shocked at the size of the building. It had more students in it than my entire high school of Rice Lake!

Don't fret now. Most 18 year old guys tend to be pretty resilient. I adapted and I'm sure your nephew will meet the challenge.

OPF

Zool
08-25-2006, 07:32 AM
I have heard a legend that La Crosse has more bars per citizen than any other city. Any truth to that?


I've actually heard that too. I've spent my fair share of time in LaCrosse and its always a good time. When you can hit 8 bars in a 2 block radius youre in good shape.

Plus, they have Dave's guitar shop. If you play and have never been, its a cool place to go.

Bubba &quot;hotdog&quot
08-25-2006, 09:12 AM
I've never been more proud of being born in Milwaukee!!


:mrgreen: :D

I agree!!! This must be where I get my beer drinking skills from!!!

KYPack
08-25-2006, 04:19 PM
I just read an article about Mpls/StPaul's standing as #2 in a a local paper. There's a bit of a tizzy here about that because the city doesn't see itself as one with a drinking problem. In fact, I think people are kind of confused by the ranking.

Honestly, I don't see it. But, hey, I really only go out when my band plays, so I'm not the best person to ask.

Congrats Milwaukee! Not only are you the dirtiest city I know, but you're the drunkest!

tyler

Dirtiest city? Obviously you've never been through Gary, Indiana.

East St Louis Ill, Tyler? They have trouble with all forms of cleanliness in that burg which puts any town I've ever be in in the deep shade.

Drunk ass towns?

Mil
Minn
PBurgh
Chicago
Cleve.

Hard ass beer drinkers on their ass will be found in abundance in all these urban locales on Friday & Sat nites. Both Chi & Pitt have an extra veneer of violence coupled with incoherance which adds to the craziness.

FavreChild
08-25-2006, 04:24 PM
Drunk ass towns?

Mil
Minn
PBurgh
Chicago
Cleve.



Pretty much the best five cities in the whole damn country, IMO. We keep it real!

GBRulz
08-25-2006, 07:09 PM
I can certainly relate, GBrulz. When I entered my first dorm of McCormick Hall on 16th and Wisconsin Ave., I was shocked at the size of the building. It had more students in it than my entire high school of Rice Lake!

Don't fret now. Most 18 year old guys tend to be pretty resilient. I adapted and I'm sure your nephew will meet the challenge.

OPF

I think my nephew said he's in the Abbotsford dorms. On 13th...

Got an email from him this morning, he was going on about 3 people getting shot last night downtown. I said to get used to it. One of his roomies is from Boulder Junction!! Culture shock for them both

retailguy
08-25-2006, 09:30 PM
Drunk ass towns?

Mil
Minn
PBurgh
Chicago
Cleve.



Pretty much the best five cities in the whole damn country, IMO. We keep it real!


CLEVELAND???? You've got to be kidding.

FavreChild
08-25-2006, 11:13 PM
C-town isn't glamourous. It's not supposed to be. But it gets a bad rap.

woodbuck27
08-26-2006, 01:16 AM
Drunkest Cities 1. Milwaukee

mmmmm.

Blame that... on the Ho-Chunk's?

Little Whiskey
08-26-2006, 12:34 PM
i'd vote them one of the dumbest cities that decided to tear up all its freeways all at once. damned idiots!!! driving thru downtown looks like beruit!

GBRulz
08-26-2006, 03:21 PM
Drunkest Cities 1. Milwaukee

mmmmm.

Blame that... on the Ho-Chunk's?

close, Woody....wrong tribe though. It's the Potawatomi in Milwaukee

Scott Campbell
08-26-2006, 05:11 PM
C-town isn't glamourous. It's not supposed to be. But it gets a bad rap.

Cleveland shocked me the last time I was there. They revitalized their downtown and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has given them a tourist industry many cities would be jealous of. It's no longer deserving of the Bob Uecker rain delay jokes anymore.

MJZiggy
08-26-2006, 10:19 PM
Drunkest Cities 1. Milwaukee

mmmmm.

Blame that... on the Ho-Chunk's?

close, Woody....wrong tribe though. It's the Potawatomi in Milwaukee

Funny, I thought it was the bar on every corner. Did anyone else notice that this study came out on the same day as Partial turns 21, Coincidence? Hmmm.