Mobile’s own Jimmy Buffett made the manta “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” famous, but his fellow Alabamians have apparently taken it to heart.
A recent survey found that Alabama residents who drink alcohol aren’t interested in waiting until 5 p.m. to enjoy an adult beverage. In fact, there isn’t a single state in the U.S. where residents say they wait until 5 p.m.
According to the survey by Zinna Health, a behavioral treatment network, the average Alabama resident thinks starting drinking at 3 p.m. is a fine idea.
Alabama drinkers, though, are amateurs compared to those in Wyoming, who think noon is go time for alcohol consumption. At the other end, North Dakota and Montana residents had the latest start time at 4:30 p.m.
Truly, it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere.
But the survey uncovered other factors as to when and why people drink.
While the vast majority had no issue with drinking alcohol before 5 p.m., most (60%) don’t want to do it alone. More than a third of those surveyed said holidays and weekends were a great time for day drinking and third of respondents also said warmer weather makes them want to start drinking earlier.
Throwing caution to the wind, 26% said they preferred beer and wine for day drinking, saving hard liquor for the nighttime hours, clearly thumbing their noses at the old adage: “beer before liquor, never sicker.”
Early imbibers also seem largely unconcerned with the judgment of others, with only 36% indicating they might have second thoughts about early drinking if others disapproved. As for the other 64%:
- 17% said they’d raise a glass to toast anyone passing judgment on them
- 22% would lean on the “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” catchphrase
- 16% said they’d invite those with disapproving scowls to join them for a drink
- 9% said they couldn’t care less
However, the survey also found that 44% of all respondents said they’d have no problem confronting a friend, family member or colleague if they had concerns about them overindulging in daytime drinking. Zinnia Health’s Rebecca Hill said it’s important to remember the risks associated with drinking, particularly during earlier hours.
“While the idea of daytime drinking may be romanticized by the phrase ‘It’s five o’clock somewhere,’ we have to recognize the potential dangers and consequences associated with this practice,” Hill said. “Regularly consuming alcohol before 5 p.m. can be a slippery slope towards unhealthy drinking habits and alcohol dependence.”