A state-by-state comparison by a Wisconsin newspaper concluded that the Badger State is the most deeply affected by alcohol use in the U.S.

The Appleton Post-Crescent reported July 6 that the analysis included 10 key measures of each state's drinking culture, including price, availability, consumption, and related criminal-justice, social and health impacts of use.

"Looking at the measures the way you did, Wisconsin is the worst," said Traci Toomey, an associate professor and epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota.

Wisconsin has some of the lowest alcohol prices in the U.S. (the beer tax hasn't been raised since 1969), and 17,500 bars, taverns and stores licensed to sell alcohol. The state also has the highest rates of binge drinking and alcoholism in the country. The alcohol industry employs more than 200,000 people in the state, but 320 Wisconsin residents died in drunk-driving crashes last year.

The newspaper plans a series of articles that delve deeper into Wisconsin's drinking culture and its consequences.

"This state is so ingrained in the drinking culture that one is not allowed to touch anything that revolves around that culture," said Kari Kinnard, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Wisconsin.