Fargo Ranks as 2nd Drunkest City in the U.S.

by Krista Boehm
July 16, 2012


A national poll lists Fargo as the second drunkest city in the United States.
 
The poll was taken by the Daily Beast and appears in the National Ledger website.
 
Some people in the area are wondering how the city got there.
 
Fargo is near the top in a poll for the drunkest cities in the United States.
 
"To me it's not surprising. My reaction may be different than others but I expected us to be drunk," said Tajae Viaene.
 
Tajae Viaene of Fargo relates the poll to her college life experience.
 
"I just graduated college and have experienced that life. I guess you grow up thinking there just isn't much else to do up here."
 
The poll provided data on the average number of alcoholic drinks per month residents of two hundred cities reported to have consumed.

This leaves some people wondering how accurate the poll actually is.
 
Fargo Police Lieutenant Joel Vettel said, "These statistics are based on info that may not be a true reflection as far as what is happening and the quality of life here."
 
"I wouldn't believe the poll necessarily. I believe those polls can be skewed," said Russ Girtz.
 
The data provided in the poll makes it hard for people to believe the results are true but realize the level of binge drinking is a problem.
 
"Fargo certainly has a reputation for binge drinking but I don't think it's any worse than a lot of other," NDSU professor Charles Cherry said.
 
Lt. Vettel said, "We certainly have a unique situation in our community. We are a very strong based community on educational institutions with all the young people that are here."
 
A community considered to be a college town that Lieutenant Vettel says may have influenced the poll.
 
"That age group between 21 and 27, certainly the statistics show that they do have a higher number consuming alcohol."
 
But with that in mind, Vettel says polls like this that are not scientific should be  taken with a grain of salt.

According to the poll, the drunkest city is Milwaukee.

San Francisco is number three followed by Austin, Texas and Reno, Nevada.