Report Reveals Exact Amount Average Montana Adult Spends on Alcohol Every Year

The neon beer signs flicker to life just as the sun slips behind the Beartooths. You’re sitting at the bar in Red Lodge or downtown Billings, watching the bartender slide a cold Beltian White across the worn wooden counter. The people next to you are hashing out their plans for checking the rivers and debating how bad this wildfire season is going to get.

It’s a scene that feels as fundamental to Montana as fishing rods and big sky. But according to a national report tracking exactly how much Americans spend on booze every year, it also explains why Montana just landed a spot in the Top 10 highest-spending states.

Turns out, we are spending more on drinks than almost everyone else in the country.

Big Sky, Bigger Budgets: Cracking the National Top 10

The study analyzed data on annual, per-adult alcohol spending across all 50 states. To nobody’s surprise, the places with long winters took most of the top spots.

Here is the national leaderboard:

1. Alaska - $1,250
2. Wyoming - $1,238
3. Colorado - $1,202
4. Massachusetts - $1,189
5. Rhode Island - $1,141
6. Delaware - $1,114
7. Oregon - $1,083
8. Nevada - $1,080
9. Washington - $1,070
10. MONTANA - $1,051

At first glance, hearing that we spend an average of over $1,000 a year sounds massive. But break it down: that’s about $87 a month.

Now, think about your average month:

• A couple of pricy drafts at a KettleHouse Amphitheater show in Bonner.
• The "Big Sky premium" on a 12-pack of Moose Drool.
• Dinner in Bozeman with a few local spirits.
• Stocking the Yeti cooler for a float trip down the Madison.
• Rodeo weekend

When you factor in that “Treasure State Tax” on a night out or a weekend trip, suddenly hitting $87 a month feels incredibly accurate, and actually, I definitely thought it might be higher.

Regional Rivalry: Where We Stand (At Least We Aren't Utah)

While we're in the national top ten, we aren't even the biggest spenders in the Rocky Mountain West.

• Wyoming (#2): Our southern neighbors are absolutely crushing us, spending almost $200 more per person every year.
• Washington (#9) & Oregon (#7): Both squeaked past us, thanks to massive populations and their extensive wine and craft beer industries.
• Idaho: Didn't even make the national Top 10. Apparently, our neighbors to the west are spending their money on potatoes or river gear instead of the taproom.

And at the very bottom of the entire nation? Utah, spending a modest $606 per year. That comes as a surprise to absolutely no one.

Why No Montanan is Surprised

Let’s be real: Nobody in Montana is dropping their jaw at this list. This isn't about people trying to be flashy or trendy.

In many of our towns, the local tavern, the dive bar, or the brewery patio acts as the community living room. It's the place where you catch up after work, celebrate birthdays, watch the Cats and Griz games, and reconnect with neighbors you haven’t seen since the snow started.

Our social lives often revolve around gathering places because we are so spread out. We hit the local spot to wash the dust off after branding calves, to warm up after a freezing-day ski, or simply to survive the crushing isolation of a six-month winter. We gather because sometimes, a backyard firepit or a tavern stool is the quickest way to make the distance feel smaller and the loneliness fade for a night.

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The Other Side of the Stool

Of course, this conversation carries weight in Montana. Almost all of us have been impacted, directly or indirectly, by the state’s historical struggles with alcohol, especially on our rural two-lane highways.

So while it’s easy to chuckle about beating Idaho or landing in the top ten, it also comes with a heavy realization of what that culture sometimes costs us. For many families, that $1,051 number represents far more than just "celebrating." It’s tied to memories of addiction, loss, or struggles that hit too close to home.