Friday, August 8, 2008

Welcome to Austin! What’ll you have?

From the Not-Particularly-Shocking-News Department: Austin, Texas leads the nation in drinking, at least according to a study by the CDC.

Austin, Texas, is famous for its parties. People flock from around the world to attend events like the annual South by Southwest film and music festival. And when they get there, chances are they make like the locals and throw back a few cold ones—because Austin may be the hardest-drinking city in America.

Austin ranks high for its drinking habits across the board. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, 61.5% of adult residents say they have had at least one drink of alcohol within the past 30 days, and a staggering 20.6% of respondents confess to binge drinking, or having five or more drinks on one occasion.

Now, we’re not keen on promoting unhealthy or reckless behavior, but if you’re in town for SXSW 2009, order an extra Shiner or two and enjoy them responsibly. You’ll be doing your part to keep Austin on top.