NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Across the country, alcohol use is on the rocks, but recent data shows Tennesseans are raising their glasses.

Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows adult drinking rates decreased in every state from 2013 to 2023, except in Tennessee, where the rate rose 6.9 percentage points.

Despite the concerning figure, TN still has a smaller share of adults who drink compared to the majority of states in the U.S.

“It’s great that we are doing better than most states in terms of that adult drinking rate. However, it is concerning that we have the only increase observed in the entire United States," Elliot Pinsly, the CEO of the Behavioral Health Foundation, said.

It's difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for the increase,

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