Are liberals bigger drinkers than conservatives? The sobering answer appears to be "yes," according to new study published by the Journal of Wine Economics that finds that alcohol consumption in American states rises as the population’s politics becomes more liberal.
According to a report on the study in The Week, Duquesne University in Pennsylvania researchers found a direct correlation between political leanings and a demand for alcohol.
The researchers found states with more liberal representatives like Nevada consume up to three times more alcohol per head than more politically conservative states like Arkansas and Utah.
"In this study, we show that liberal ideology has a statistically significant positive association with the consumption of alcohol in the United States even after controlling for economic, demographic, and geographic differences across states," the researchers wrote. "These findings are consistent with other recent studies in other parts of the world showing that people with socialist views tend to drink more."
The investigators speculated that people of a more liberal orientation may be more open to new experiences, such as alcohol or drugs. Those living in more liberal states may also feel more confident in the ability of government healthcare and welfare programs to handle health or social problems that result from alcohol abuse.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.