There's a joke that a character repeats several times in the movie 'Mississippi Burning.' It goes, "what has four eyes but can't see? Mississippi." It's not that funny of a joke, but then again 'Mississippi Burning' wasn't supposed to be that funny of a movie. It's also not the greatest representation of Mississippi, which is a beautiful, vibrant state.
Mississippi is an American state with a long and rich history. That usually means there's a lot of alcohol involved in that history. If your state was established back when there was very little to do other than drink, then it usually goes hand in hand with your identity. That's why laws won't even stop people from still making Mississippi moonshine.
Statistics :
Adults drinking excessively: 13.3% - Alcohol-related driving deaths: 23.3% (3rd lowest) - Adults in fair or poor health: 22.2% (3rd highest) - Drunkest metro area: Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS