Sweaty palms, racing heartbeat, and breath caught in your throat? Chances are you may be experiencing some first-date nerves. Whether you reach for a glass of champagne, a homemade margarita, or a Bud Light, a little bit of liquid courage can go a long way. As dating app use continues to skyrocket, it got us wondering which states are slinging back shots and sipping on red wines to calm first-date jitters. Keep reading to discover the states that are pregaming the hardest before a first date!
Which States Are Pregaming Most Before a First Date?
Certain states are breaking out the wine (or shot) glasses more than others! First on our list is Missouri, which combats first-date nerves with an average of 3.14 drinks — 58.2% higher than the national average (which sits at 1.99 drinks).
Whether you decide to go on a murder-mystery date or visit The Boom Boom Room, a burlesque dinner theater located in St. Louis, a little bit of liquid courage can open you up to new experiences.
Texas follows closely behind, as respondents guzzle 3.10 drinks on average before their first date, which is 56.2% higher than the national average.
Those in Hawaii tend not to get nervous before a date, as they only consume 1.57 drinks on average, which is 20.8% below the national average. Since Hawaii is home to some of the most epic first-date places like Lulumahu Falls — a gorgeous 50-foot waterfall located in Honolulu — it’s no wonder residents prefer to date (almost) sober.
New Hampshire (1.65 drinks), Minnesota (1.70 drinks), and New York (1.71 drinks) follow closely behind as the states that are least likely to pregame before a date.
Texas (5.06 drinks) and Rhode Island (4.88 drinks) rack up the highest tab, as participants from those states drink the most during the first date. The Lone Star State is home to plenty of vineyards, which is all the more reason to let loose.
Utah (3.20 drinks), New York (3.29 drinks), and Virginia (3.30 drinks) are most likely to skip a nightcap by forgoing drinking during the first date.
What Are People Drinking Before a First Date?
Putting yourself out there can be difficult! Whether you’re looking to date casually or are searching for your soulmate, alcoholic drinks can help you loosen up and quell first-date nerves.
Our findings revealed that a majority of people open the liquor cabinet before a first date, including even celebs like Camila Cabello, who admitted to taking shots before her first date with Shawn Mendes. Most respondents reached for beer (28.0%), liquor for cocktails and mixed drinks (24.0%), or a glass of wine (22.3%) to put an end to first-date anxiety. Check out our other boozy stats below:
- 76% of respondents say they typically drink before a first date.
- Dating app users are twice as likely as non-dating app users to drink before a first date, either “always” or “often.”
- 41% of dating app users feel compelled to take shots before a first date. 32% of overall respondents say the same.
- 65% of overall respondents and 70% of dating app users say drinking alcohol before or during a date makes them feel more comfortable meeting someone new.
Closing Thoughts
It’s normal to feel nervous before a date. Thankfully, a Truly Hard Seltzer or an IPA can help put your mind at ease — plus, who knows? Some great love stories start with spirits.
Did drinks at the bar turn into something more? Surprise your special someone with stunning stud earrings or celebrate your partner for a lifetime with an engagement ring — cheers!
Methodology
To discover which states needed some extra sips of alcohol to quell first-date nerves, we surveyed 2,160 Americans who consume alcohol to get the deets on their pre-date drinking habits. Our survey ran from September 12, 2022, to September 19, 2022, and we surveyed an equal number of respondents in each state on how many drinks they typically consume(d) before and during a first date.
From the survey responses, we calculated the national average number of drinks consumed before and during a first date. Next, we calculated the percentage change between the number of drinks and the national average for each state. We asked questions like “Does drinking alcohol before/during a date make you feel more or less comfortable meeting someone new?” and “Have you ever taken shots before a first date?”
