Eagles fans drink how much booze? Sobering reality check or skewed data?
Philly fans are known to be crazy. However, a recent survey revealed how much Eagles fans drink compared to other NFL fanbases, and the answer is, at the initial viewing, rather disappointing. Sports Handle polled fans on a few different gameday drinking metrics, and Eagles fans came up lower than expected.
Most Beers Drank in the Stadium
When I saw the Eagles were tied for 24th in beers drank per game, I wasn’t surprised by the result. After all, Eagles fans are an economically savvy bunch. I love paying twelve dollars for a Bud Light Orange tallboy as much as the next guy, but there’s got to be a limit.
With the outrageous prices, Eagles fans drinking about 3.4 beers per game sounds about right to me. I am curious to see how this data will change with the recently-built Jameson whiskey bar at the Linc.
Here’s the Top 5 for you numbers nerds out there.
- Cincinnati Bengals- 5.2 beers per game (BPG)
- Baltimore Ravens- 4.7 BPG
- Buffalo Bills- 4.5 BPG
- Chicago Bears- 4.5 BPG
- Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and LA Chargers tied with 4.4 BPG
Bengals fans topping the list is no surprise at all. Beer in Ohio flows like water and, if I was a Bengals fan, I’d keep my mouth open under the tap for all four quarters.
Highest Pregame Beer Intake Percentage (PBIP)
This is where things get a little dicey for me. I’ve been to Eagles tailgates before. I’ve witnessed Philly’s brand of debauchery first hand, which is why I cannot for the life of me understand why Eagles fans rank 21st in PBIP, with 55% of fans saying they drink before the game.
The only thing I can think that would cause this is how widespread the Eagles fan diaspora is. With fans sometimes coming from hours away, they don’t have the time to drink to their heart’s content before or during the game. Plus, they’ve gotta drive home all that way; it’s best not to butt-chug too many Leinenkugels in the parking lot before the game.
Top 5 PBIP
- Buffalo Bills- 83% PBIP
- Carolina Panthers- 81% PBIP
- Atlanta Falcons- 74% PBIP
- Chicago Bears- 72% PBIP
- Arizona Cardinals- 71% PBIP
There are some surprises on this list, notably the Panthers fans, but there is no question that Bills fans belong in the number one spot. Bills fans on game day are like Orthodox Jews on the Sabbath because neither are allowed to drive. (Neither wants the COVID vaccine either, but I digress.)
Eagles Fans Can Hang
Of course, when it comes to drinking too much, that’s impossible for Eagles fans. Birds fans sling back Brewstoyevsky’s like it’s our job, and our passion for Eagles football keeps us just sober enough to avoid passing out. Sure, that may mean 25% of the stadium is in a twilight state, unable to distinguish dreams from reality, but it also keeps the energy up and the post-game banter at proper levels.
Other fanbases, however, are not so resilient.
Top 5
- Carolina Panthers- 71%
- Buffalo Bills- 69%
- Cincinnati Bengals- 63%
- Seattle Seahawks- 62%
- Arizona Cardinals- 61%
Clearly, Panthers fans have needed a way to cope with their recent form, and that’s with 70% of them blacking out and forgetting what happened on the field. Consider it a weekly three-hour coma to prioritize mental health.
Gone are the days of MVP Cam Newton and DPOY Luke Kuechly. With Sam Darnold under center this season, expect that number to jump up between 90-95%.
Closing Statement
Regardless of how I’ve rationalized these numbers to fit a pro-Eagles fan narrative, there is definitely something off. An old scientist friend of mine always said, “soft science is not real science,” and this situation is a perfect example of that.
How many fans did they survey? What was the exact phrasing of the question? Did they account for the plastic flask of liquor snuck into the Linc between a fan’s frozen asscheeks? All very important questions I hope Sports Handle will answer.
Until that day, I will hold these survey results under contempt until I am satisfied with Sports Handle’s reply. Our lawyer (me) will be in touch.
You see can see the full results of the survey here.
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Mandatory Credit: Thrillist
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