Lawrence ranked most hungover city in America
Lawrence has been named the most hungover city by Business Insider.
The business and technology news website ranked the 25 Most Hungover Cities In America using a score based on five indicators: prevalence of heavy drinking, prevalence of binge drinking, and the number of bars, liquor stores and breweries per 100,000 people.
With a hangover score of 90.22, Lawrence ranked number one on the list. Manhattan came in at number four, with a score of 85.74.
T.K. Peterson, co-owner of Merchants Pub and Plate, said he wants bar patrons to have a good time but that the restaurant is careful not to over serve. Merchants, 746 Massachusetts St., offers 30 beers on tap.
“We’re happy to be a part of a lively college town that definitely has a drinking scene,” Peterson said.
According to the Business Insider website, 8.6 percent of Lawrencians reported heavy drinking and 25.9 percent reported binge drinking. Per 100,000 people, there are 28.3 bars, 24.8 beer/wine/liquor stores and 1.8 alcoholic beverage-producing establishments.
Business Insider used two main sources of data, the CDC’s 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an annual survey of Americans’ health habits, and the Census Bureau’s 2012 County Business Patterns program, which tracks the number and size of businesses across the country.
Brittany Reynolds, a bartender, said that she wasn’t surprised at all to hear about the ranking and that bartenders in Lawrence make good money. But Reynolds, who bartends at Louise’s, 1009 Massachusetts St., said that despite the benefits to business, she hopes people act responsibly.
“We always hope that everyone is safe and doesn’t take it too far,” Reynolds said.
Lawrence resident Brian Bay said he was surprised at the top ranking because the drinking in Lawrence seems typical of a college town.
“In any college town, there’s going to be a lot of drinking,” Bay said. “There’s nothing unusual compared to other college towns in America.”