The Beer Institute calculated the total amount of beer sold in the state each year, and, dividing it by the total population over the age of 21, estimated the average consumption per person. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 10 states with the highest consumption in gallons per capita in 2011. Plus, the Beer Institute provided data on alcohol taxes, rules and regulations related to the consumption of beer and liquor, and changes in consumption dating back to 2003. 24/7 Wall St. also reviewed heavy-drinking and binge-drinking data provided for 2011 by the CDC.

10. Delaware
> Per capita consumption: 34.3 gallons

While most of the states that consume a great deal of alcohol are large and sparsely populated, Delaware is the second-smallest state by area, and one of the most densely populated in the country.  Delaware is among the top 15 in the country both for heavy drinking and binge drinking. 

9. Nebraska
> Per capita consumption: 34.6 gallons (tied-8th)

Nebraskans are among the heaviest drinkers in the United States. Nearly 23% of Nebraska adults were binge drinkers while another 7.5% were heavy drinkers. Overall, 61.8% of all adults stated they had consumed alcohol within the past 30 days, one of the highest percentages in the country.

8. Texas
> Per capita consumption: 34.6 gallons (tied-8th)


Despite being one of the nation's largest per-capita consumers of beer, just 54.3% of adult Texans surveyed last year had consumed alcohol in the preceding 30 days — well below the national average of 57.1%. Binge and heavy drinkers only accounted for 18.9% and 7%, respectively, of Texas' adult population. 

7. Vermont
> Per capita consumption: 34.7 gallons


While alcohol consumption declined in the vast majority of states between 2003 and 2011, alcohol consumption actually increased in Vermont by over 7% — more than any other state in the country. Meanwhile, shipments between 2003 and 2011 grew nearly 13%, the second-fastest growth rate in the country and significantly higher than the half-percent growth of shipments across the country. Although the state's beer consumption per capita is higher than most, the sale of beer is also more restricted than most.

6. Wisconsin
> Per capita consumption: 36.2 gallons


Wisconsin is home to the Miller Brewing Company and a host of microbreweries — the state has 112 breweries, more than all states except four. Nearly one in every four Wisconsinites is considered a binge drinker, while nearly one in 10 residents is considered a heavy drinker. Both of those figures are higher than in any other state in the U.S. In 2011, more than 67% of the state's population had a drink in any given month, the highest rate in the country.

5. Nevada
> Per capita consumption: 36.5 gallons


The state is not especially strict on beer sales, allowing for Sunday sales, as well as for sales in grocery and convenience stores. A significant amount of beer consumption is likely driven by Las Vegas' tourism industry. As of July, Las Vegas had over 23 million visitors this year, while the state's total population was just over 2.7 million.

4. South Dakota
> Per capita consumption: 38.0 gallons


Although per-capita consumption actually dropped 1.8% between 2003 and 2011, South Dakota is now fourth in consumption, up from seventh in 2003. More than 22% of the state's population are considered to be binge drinkers, the sixth-highest rate in the country. However, the number of heavy drinkers is significantly lower, at just under 6%, below the 6.6% national average.

3. Montana
> Per capita consumption: 40.6 gallons


Montana is just one of three states where the average adult drinks more than 40 gallons of beer a year. Montana has very few restrictions on selling beer, allowing Sunday sales as well as permitting grocery and convenience store to sell beer. In 2010, 20.8% of adults in Montana were binge drinkers, one of the highest proportions in the country.

2. North Dakota
> Per capita consumption: 42.2 gallons


The state's recent oil boom has attracted many young males who statistically drink more beer than the population as a whole. Nearly 24% of the state's population are binge drinkers, which is the second-highest rate of all states. However, the 6.5% of the population considered heavy drinkers is slightly less than the national average.

1.New Hampshire
> Per capita consumption: 43.0 gallons


Nearly 66% of people had a drink in the past 30 days through 2011, second only to Wisconsin. Although the state has the highest per-capita consumption, only 18.7% of the population are considered binge drinkers, just slightly over the 18.3% national rate. New Hampshire has a tax of 30 cents per gallon of beer. In neighboring Vermont, it runs as high as 55 cents a gallon if alcohol content is more than 6%. (New Hampshire has the highest beer consumption partly because Vermont and Massachusetts residents come there to purchase alcohol.)