Oregonians Miss Going to Bars More Than the Gym, According to a New Survey

Overall, the survey found 1 in 3 respondents have whiled away quarantine by boozing rather than exercising.

By Matthew Singer
D's Bar on Northeast Sandy Boulevard reopened the weekend of June 19. (Brian Burk)

After a day of doom-scrolling and compulsive news watching, many Oregonians could probably go for a drink—preferably in a loud, crowded dive.

That can't happen, of course. And we're pretty bummed out about it.

A state-by-state survey conducted by American Addiction Centers asked 3,000 adults across the country what they've missed more during the pandemic: bars or gyms. In Oregon, bars won out by a decent margin: 59% to 41%.

Overall, the survey found 1 in 3 respondents have whiled away quarantine by boozing rather than exercising. Given the source, the point seems to be that Americans are picking up bad habits as our lives continue to be upended, but c'mon, American Addiction Centers: Just let us live!

If you personally feel shamed, don't feel too bad: Delaware prefers social drinking to public sweating greater than any other state, with 83% of respondents saying they miss their local bar more than the local Crunch Fitness. Well, yeah—what else is there to do in Delaware?

Anyway: Hey, did you hear cocktails to go are legal now?

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American Addiction CentersBarsgymsurvey

Matthew Singer

Matthew Singer

A native Southern Californian, former Arts & Culture Editor Matthew Singer ruined Portland by coming here in 2008. He is an advocate for the canonization of the Fishbone and Oingo Boingo discographies, believes pro-wrestling is a serious art form and roots for the Lakers. Fortunately, he left Portland for Tucson, Arizona, in 2021.

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