ExiledInIllinois

Fair... Could have had a color gradient going from Bible Belt to Wisconsin... BUT... There's actually a dry community here in Cook County... Chicago's county. South Holland, Illinois... History going back to Dutch Reformed Church IIRC... That's pretty far north and out of the Bible Belt!

They are world's apart. Ever been to Wisconsin? Oklahoma has laxer minor drinking like Wisconsin but NOT as lax... But there's a huge difference between 10% & 24%... That's cultural. Engrained in brain w/dependency at an EARLY age. The color coding is right. They rest of the nation is coded same way.

Probably get crucified by the pro-weed people but here goes. The human brain isn't full developed till ~27 years... How can anybody say a psychoactive is safer than alcohol... I am NOT advocating alcohol either... https://www.bbc.com/news/health-45732911

Well. They got those schools wrong! 😉 Look... It's the first time since 2008, let's see if it's a trend. One year doesn't make it so.

https://www.sciencealert.com/worlds-most-common-pain-relief-drug-may-induce-risky-behavior-study-finds https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32888031/

OR: Maybe the selection committee finally got the seeding right in the last 17 years. There still have been some upsets.

First time since 2008 that all #1s in FinalFour.

Doesn't Utah have crazy booze laws too, like it's all gotta be sold in those little airplane sized bottles?

🤣

So does the Bible Belt need therapy. Lighten up a little bit. Amazing how telling that map is. Clearly shows the Bible Belt... Oklahoma has lax minor drinking laws (not as ambiguous as Wisconsin though) AND Oklahoma is all green. People criticize religion, in a good way that map says it all! There's a few dry towns in Illinois. I think South Holland, Illinois up here in Cook County is one of the furthest North dry towns?

It's parents, culture. The science really backs not touching alcohol till 27 or so when brain is fully developed... I know, I know... Don't shoot the messenger: "Wisconsin permits the consumption of alcohol by minors, provided they are being supervised by parents/guardians/spouses." EDIT: Notice how vaguely that is worded compared to other states that allow underage exceptions... Other states individualize it. I guess in Wisconsin, underage drinking is allowed at parties, just gotta be supervised, right?

Historically German population in Upper Midwest too...

"What made Milwaukee famous sure made a fool outta me!" It doesn't snow that much in Wisconsin. Wisconsin doesn't even crack top 11. Syracuse is #1. They're yellow on map. https://www.weatherstationadvisor.com/snowiest-cities-in-the-us/ Beer industry. It's culture related. Don't underestimate 100+ years of mass marketing...

HFBD!! Talas actually did a gig @ WSWjr. when I was much younger... Siblings 5-4 years older than me.