The Burden of Excessive Alcohol Use and State Policy Solutions

1. The Burden of Excessive Alcohol Use and State Policy Solutions Wisconsin State Prevention Conference September 12th, 2013

2. Who we are • www.healthfirstwi.org

3. What we provide • Technical Assistance • Data and other Resources • Content Expertise • State Legislative Updates

6. The Context

7. Alcohol Policy Work

8. State Leadership Team

9. What we’re trying to create

10. 3 Policy Priorities

11. Parental Exemption

12. Why? • Common sense approach to begin changing the culture and norms around alcohol in Wisconsin • A consistent drinking age sends the message that underage drinking isn’t acceptable • Scientific research and data exists supporting a drinking age of 21 • Because the brain is not fully developed, alcohol use prior to the age of 21 can hamper brain development and function • The younger someone starts drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to develop an alcohol related disorder later in life

13. Sobriety Checkpoints

14. Why? • Common sense proposal for a state that consistently leads, or is near the top, in national drunk driving rates • An evidenced-based strategy that: • A CDC study shows sobriety checkpoints reduce the number of alcohol related crashes by 20% in states that implement sobriety checkpoints compared to those that do not • A CDC study shows sobriety checkpoints reduce nighttime crashes and nighttime fatal crashes anywhere from 18%-71% • NHTSA says that combining sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols is the most effective way to combat drunk driving

15. Alcohol Taxes

16. Why? • Excessive Alcohol Use costs Wisconsin $6.8 billion dollars a year • Wisconsin is currently 48thnationally in beer tax, 42nd in wine tax and 36th in distilled spirits tax • Revenue generated could go towards funding prevention, treatment and law enforcement efforts • An evidenced-based strategy that: • Lowers binge drinking and underage drinking rates • Reduces alcohol related injuries

17. Burden of Excessive Alcohol Use Report $6.8 Billion

18. Definition • Excessive Alcohol Use is defined as: • Binge Drinking • Heavy Drinking • Underage Drinking • Drinking while pregnant

21. Now what??

22. Continue to work with your local media

23. Share with your coalition

24. Use towards local policy efforts

25. Contact your state elected officials/ in-district meetings

26. Website • Alcohol Misuse Prevention section on Health and Practice website • Launched on April 22nd

27. http://www.healthinpractice.org/alcohol-misuse-prevention

28. Paul Krupski Policy Director- Alcohol Health First Wisconsin P: 608-268-2620 pkrupski@healthfirstwi.org

29. Questions