The Drunkest Cities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York

**Wait Until You See Which City Tops This List!

There are certain places where you probably expect to find a lot of drinking. College towns? Absolutely. Casino cities? Of course. A downtown packed with bars, restaurants and nightlife? Makes sense.

Get our free mobile app

But then there are the places that make you say, “Wait...WHAT?”

I came across some numbers looking at excessive drinking in communities across New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, and a few of the results really caught my attention.

Especially the one right here at the Jersey Shore.

Ocean City, New Jersey — About 23%

Let's start with Ocean City, because this one is just too ironic.

The numbers put Ocean City at roughly 23 percent of adults reporting excessive drinking, making it one of the highest in New Jersey.

Now, if you've ever been to Ocean City, you might be scratching your head.

Ocean City is a dry town!

There are no bars selling alcohol and you can't walk into a liquor store in town and pick up a six-pack for the beach house.

Yet somehow, Ocean City lands near the top when it comes to this particular statistic.

Of course, being a dry town doesn't mean people aren't drinking. You can simply head outside the city limits to buy alcohol. And Ocean City is surrounded by plenty of communities where you can enjoy a cocktail, beer or glass of wine.

Still, I have to admit, seeing Ocean City on a list like this made me laugh.

A family beach town known for its boardwalk, beaches and saltwater taffy?

Really?

Atlantic City also ranks high in New Jersey, and honestly, that one doesn't surprise me nearly as much. Casinos, restaurants, nightlife and entertainment make Atlantic City a very different kind of destination.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — About 23%

Now let's take a little road trip into Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh is sitting at roughly 23 percent, putting it right around the same range as Ocean City.

And when you think about Pittsburgh, you can probably understand why it might have a pretty active drinking culture.

You've got sports, breweries, neighborhood pubs and restaurants everywhere.

And Pittsburgh sports fans? Let's just say they know how to celebrate a win, and sometimes drown their sorrows after a loss.

There's also State College, home of Penn State, which ranks high in Pennsylvania as well.

That one probably doesn't shock too many people.

College towns and nightlife have been going hand in hand forever.

But Pittsburgh still comes out ahead.

Saratoga Springs, New York — About 24%

Now we're heading north into New York.

Saratoga Springs comes in at about 24 percent, which puts it slightly ahead of Ocean City and Pittsburgh in these numbers.

And this is another city where the lifestyle may help explain why the number gets attention.

Saratoga Springs is a huge tourist destination, especially during horse racing season.

The Saratoga Race Course brings people into town, and when visitors arrive, they aren't just watching the horses. They're eating, drinking, shopping and enjoying the nightlife.

Downtown Saratoga can be hopping, particularly during the summer.

So when you see Saratoga Springs on this list, you might say, “OK, I can see that one.”

But 24 percent is still a pretty eye-opening number.

So What Do We Make of All This?

These numbers don't mean that one out of every four people in these communities is sitting at a bar every night.

The statistics are based on a specific definition of excessive drinking, and things like tourism, age, college populations, nightlife and local culture can all affect the results.

Keep Reading: Have You Heard of Jugging? New FBI Warning for New Jerseyans

So this isn't a contest for the city with the most people drinking. But it sure is an interesting list. And personally, Ocean City is the one that gets me.

A dry town showing up near the very top of New Jersey for excessive drinking?

That's one of those Jersey Shore facts that makes you stop what you're doing and say: “Wait a minute...how did THAT happen?”