St. Patrick’s Day has the potential to be quite expensive, with lots of corn beef, cabbage, Guinness and green clothing on Americans’ shopping lists. But the costs associated with celebrating Ireland’s primary patron saint don’t end there, especially for those who act immaturely.
Despite its religious undertones, St. Patrick’s Day often results in some light bruising for folks whose dress doesn’t express the Emerald Isle’s characteristic hue. It also ranks among the year’s most popular drinking occasions. And the good times are too often ruined by drunk driving, which can have a devastating impact on lives in general and wallets in particular.
As a result, it’s important to don green and drop your keys if you want to avoid if you getting pinched come March 17. The cost of an Uber or Lyft ride pales in comparison to that of a DUI, after all.
To help people appreciate the significance of this holiday even more, both to our wallets and overall, we researched the occasion from all angles and put together the following infographic filled with St. Patrick’s Day facts – some fun, some sobering. You can also learn more about the financial impact of St. Patrick’s Day from the Ask the Experts Q&A below the infographic. Enjoy (responsibly)!
St. Patrick’s Day Facts for 2020:
- $6.16 Billion: Amount that will be spent collectively on St. Patrick’s Day 2020 ($43 per person celebrating).
- 174%: Increase in beer sales on St. Patrick’s Day compared to the rest of the year (153% more spirits are sold compared with the average day).
- $1.6 Million: Market value of a leprechaun’s pot of gold.
- 32.1 Million: Number of Americans who claim Irish ancestry, second only to German and 7x Ireland's population.
- 73: People were killed in drunk-driving crashes over St. Patrick’s Day holiday in 2018, one life claimed every 30 minutes.
Ask the Experts
In search of commentary to supplement the St. Patrick’s Day facts in our infographic, we posed the following questions to a panel of experts. You can find their bios and responses below.
- Why is St. Patrick's Day so popular in the United States?
- What are some social and economic considerations for cities looking to host St. Patrick’s Day celebrations?
- How can local authorities promote safety and reduce alcohol related accidents on St. Patrick’s Day?
Ask the Experts
- Natasha Sumner
Associate Professor, Celtic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
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- James P. Leary
Emeritus Professor of Folklore and Scandinavian Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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