BELLINGHAM — Whether you’re a Bellingham local or grew up a few counties away, most people associate Bellingham with its brewery and beer scene.
But now, Bellingham has a new title, being named the drunkest city in Washington by a recent report by 24/7 Wall Street, a financial news and opinion website.
The report ranked cities by compiling data on percentages of people over 18 who reported heavy or binge drinking in the area, along with a report of county health rankings and the number of alcohol-related driving deaths.
The report found Bellingham to be the drunkest city in the state, with 22.9 percent of adults reporting to drink excessively, compared to 18 percent statewide. The report also found that Whatcom County had the 13th highest percentage of driving deaths involving alcohol in the state.