Perhaps it is the thirst for beer among its residents of predominantly German-American ancestry, but Wisconsin leads the states in binge drinking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 23 percent of the state's adults report having five or more drinks at one sitting -- which the agency defines as binge drinking.

• The U.S. median is 14.5 percent of the population which engages in binge drinking.

• Residents of South Dakota, Nevada, Michigan and North Dakota are also at the top of the list of those engaged in the practice.

• At the tail-end of the list are residents of Maryland, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Ohio.

Wisconsin also leads the states in the percentage of residents who drink alcohol, followed by Massachusetts. Utah has the highest percentage of teetotalers, with only 28 percent of adults saying they sometimes drink alcohol.

Source: Dirk Johnson, "Wisconsin Again Leads U.S. in Adult Drinking," New York Times, April 25, 2000.