TOPEKA (KSNT) - A new report by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute shed light on excessive drinking in Kansas. The annual County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report is intended to highlight the factors that can impact our health outcomes and disparities nationwide. To calcu late each region’s drinking rate, researchers used self-reported data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system. For the latest report, data from 2022 was used. The CDC considers both binge drinking and heavy drinking as “excessive.” Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks in one sitting among women, and five or more among men. For women, having eight or more alcoholic drinks in one week is labeled as heavy drinking, while for men, that benchmark is 15 or more drinks.  When looking at data from Kansas, the county with the highest rate of excessive drinkers was Riley County, with 25% of adults in the county self-reported binge or heavy drinking in 2022. Could Dana Chandler get a fourth trial? Rounding out the top five counties in the state with the highest rate of excessive drinkers were Riley (25%), Douglas (22%), Johnson (20%), Leavenworth (20%) and Grant (20%). Elk, Jewell and Rawlins Counties had some of the lowest rates of self-reported excessive drinkers with 15%. 10 measles cases identified in Kansas children, teens In the United States, the state with the highest excessive drinking rate was Wisconsin with 25%. It was followed by the District of Columbia (24%), Montana (24%), North Dakota (23%), and Iowa (23%).  The authors of the study noted that during the peak of the pandemic, many states began offering expanded alcohol carryout and home delivery; and businesses serving and selling alcohol were allowed to remain open.  For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. ...read more read less