Bel Air Ranks Among 'Drunkest' Towns

Bel Air has earned a dubious distinction in the top 5 of a statewide list, but this isn’t one to brag about.

The Roadsnacks website, a data compiler that specializes in creating lists that rate communities on how ”snobby” or “redneck” they are, went there, put together a list that rates the “drunkest” towns in several states - including Maryland.

Surprisingly, summer vacation spot Ocean City doesn’t make the list.

Annapolis is ranked No. 1 as the drunkest city, the No. 2 spot goes to Hagerstown, No. 3 is Bel Air, and College Park, the home to the University of Maryland, is No. 4 in the rankings. Baltimore rounds out the top 5.

What do you make of the rankings? Tell us in comments below.

About highly-ranked Bel Air, the folks at Roadsnacks wrote:

“Bel Air is a small city about 4 or 7 beers north of Baltimore, depending on how buzzed you wanted to be when you meet up with friends. And we’re pretty sure Bel Air residents know all of the back roads, right? (Wink, wink.)

There is just about more alcohol available per capita here. Meaning lots of drunk people.”

Roadsnacks.net has compiled its list of the ”drunkest” towns based on the number of available places to buy booze, and by how often people are talking about drinking. The list also includes each town’s divorce rate.

“Plus, we thought why not add in a stereotype?,” the site says. “Studies have indicated that when one or both partners in a marriage are alcoholics, that couple is three times more likely to divorce.”

The authors note that Maryland is toward the back of the pack for alcohol consumption per capita. Residents average 21 beers each a year. The divorce rate is also in the bottom of national rankings.