When you look at the data, Maine likes to drink.
But where in the state do they drink most you think?
What do you do in the long winter days,
But sit in the bars till the snow goes away.
Is there anything wrong with being called the drunkest city in your state?
Depending on the source you use, Maine is either the 8th or 12th drunkest state in the country. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse says Maine residents drink more than 30 beers a year each.
So while many people in Maine are content with a night in to watch the Sox/B’s/Patriots etc, many of the people there are out getting hammered more than just on the weekends.
How do you decide how much a place drinks? By the number of available places to buy booze, and by how often people are talking about drinking, that’s how.
Plus, we thought why not add in a stereotype? Studies have indicated that when one or both partners in a marriage are alcoholics, that couple is three times more likely to divorce.
After analyzing all cities with a decent amount of people in them, we came up with this list as The Drunkest Cities in Maine:
The 10 Drunkest Cities In Maine
For more reading on Maine, check out:
What drunken criteria did we use?
- Number of bars and pubs per capita
- Number of wineries per capita
- Number of liquor stores per capita
- Each city’s drunk related tweets within the last week
- Each city’s divorce rate
For geo-located tweets, we measured the following raw number of tweets that came from within a city’s general area: #Drunk, #Party, #Beer, #Wine and #Cocktails
Note: For the sake of getting reliable numbers, we counted places within a city’s border, as well as within a short driving distance.
1. Portland
Population: 66,235
Divorce rate: 13.8%
Bars per capita: 2nd
Liquor stores per capita: 6th
So, we’re well aware that there are about 10 breweries in Portland, and people there get hammered just about every night of the week. There are just about more bars, pubs, wineries and liquor stores per capita than anywhere else in the state of Maine.
It is a surprise to people in Maine that Portland is the drunkest in the state? Probably not. But it’s the first time that the largest city in a state ranked first. And we’ve done lists on about 30 drunken states already.
One thing that stood out was the low divorce rate. However, it’s most likely due to the younger population in Portland.
2. Rockland
Population: 7,314
Divorce rate: 21%
Bars per capita: 7th
Liquor stores per capita: 4th
Hey now, Rockland. Sounds like you guys are tore up from the floor up. According to the data and huge divorce rate, lots of you are burning the candle at both ends up there.
The number of bars and liquor stores per person are both in the top 10 in the state, and they don’t build bars where there aren’t people to sit in them, folks.
But what really makes Rockland a drunk city is the divorce rate here. 21% is by far the highest in Maine, and one of the highest we’ve ever seen, actually.
So, which was it, Rockland? The heavy drinking caused some relationship issues, or the bars are open later because 1 in 5 people is divorced?
3. Naples
Population: 3,868
Divorce rate: 15%
Bars per capita: 5th
Liquor stores per capita: 3rd
Hard to believe it, but little ole’ Naples is one of the drunkest cities in the state. The divorce rate is one of the highest, and they have quite a few bars and taverns in their little town. They even have their own little brewery, Bray’s Brewing Company.
Naples is about 2 or 5 beers north of Portland, past Sebago Lake. But we’re pretty sure you guys know all of the back roads, right?.
4. Augusta
Population: 18,769
Divorce rate: 20.2%
Bars per capita: 13th
Liquor stores per capita: 18th
Augusta has one of the highest divorce rates in Maine, and plenty of places to get liquored up to boot.
That simply has to be a factor for more than 1 in 5 people in Augusta calling it quits on their divorce.
5. Kennebunk
Population: 10,437
Divorce rate: 13.9%
Bars per capita: 5th
Liquor stores per capita: 4th
More like Kenne-drunk, right?
Kennebunk is another fairly wealthy coastal town where there are lots of bars and liquor stores per person.
The divorce rate is lower than most other cities on this list. We’re assuming that having a large bank account makes it a lot easier to overlook lots of late nights passed out drunk on the couch.
There were hardly any drunk Tweets coming from Kennebunk. But this one is a gem:
“Drunk as a skunk in Kennebunk.”
6. South Portland
Population: 24,997
Divorce rate: 15.4%
Bars per capita: 18th
Liquor stores per capita: 15th
While South Portland doesn’t have as many bars and liquor stores per person as some of these other cities, it certainly does have a fair share. More than 1 in 7 people have hit the Big D already as well.
Twitter didn’t have lots to say about South Portland’s drinking scene. Most of the chatter involved people talking about folks being pulled over or arrested for drinking and driving.
7. Kittery
Population: 9,490
Divorce rate: 18%
Bars per capita: 14th
Liquor stores per capita: 25th
New Hampshire is by far the drunkest state in the nation. And Kittery is right next door. Are they peer pressuring you guys or what?
And holy matrimony, Kittery. Your divorce rate is through the roof. Perhaps you guys should take a break every now and then and focus on the family.
If you’re newly divorced in Kittery, buck up cowboy and get back in the game. Who knows – the next Mrs. You might be out at some bar waiting for you to come and talk to her.
8. Belfast
Population: 6,664
Divorce rate: 14%
Bars per capita: 6th
Liquor stores per capita: 9th
Home of Belfast Brewing Company and Marshall Wharf Brewing Company, this little drunken enclave south of Bangor gets their drink on quite often. There’s plenty of places for this little town to get blitzed just about every night of the week.
9. Ellsworth
Population: 7,717
Divorce rate: 14.6%
Bars per capita: 7th
Liquor stores per capita: 8th
Ellsworth has a higher number of drinking opportunities per person than almost anywhere else in Maine. And like other cities on this list, the divorce rate is high.
In fact, Maine seems to have a really high divorce rate across the board.
The only Twitter mentions of partying in Ellsworth came from a couple of people talking about going to a kid’s birthday party. Hey, we’re not judging you guys up in Ellsworth. Any chance to throw a few back – even if it’s at a 5 year old’s cupcake party.
10. Bangor
Population: 32,988
Divorce rate: 16%
Liquor stores per capita: 9th
Bars per capita: 18th
One of Maine’s largest cities is also one of its drunkest. If the number of places to get bleary eyed isn’t enough, Twitter sure had lots to say about it.
There were lots of people talking about being Bangor drunk’ and Getting drunk to they don’t remember they are in Bangor.’
This one was a gem:
“This time next week I’ll be back in Bangor, meaning I’ll either be on the piss or in bed drunk. I’m fine with either.”
There You Have It
If you’re measuring the locations in Maine where there are a high number of divorced people, bars and liquor stores, and where people are talking about drinking the most often, this is an accurate list.
For more reading on Maine, check out:
As a proper journalist, you’re quite sure that all of those Twitter comments were about Bangor, Maine, US and NOT about Bangor, Wales, UK? Because Bangor, Wales, UK is a big college town (city) quite well known for it’s drunk students.
The picture of Evelyn’s Tavern is the one in Mount Vernon, WA. South Portland’s Ev’s ain’t nearly that classy.