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The Burden of Excessive Alcohol Use and State Policy Solutions. Wisconsin State Prevention Conference September 12 th , 2013. Who we are. www.healthfirstwi.org. What we provide. Technical Assistance Data and other Resources Content Expertise State Legislative Updates. The Context.
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The Burden of Excessive Alcohol Use and State Policy Solutions Wisconsin State Prevention Conference September 12th, 2013
Who we are • www.healthfirstwi.org
What we provide • Technical Assistance • Data and other Resources • Content Expertise • State Legislative Updates
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
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
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
Burden of Excessive Alcohol Use Report $6.8 Billion
Definition • Excessive Alcohol Use is defined as: • Binge Drinking • Heavy Drinking • Underage Drinking • Drinking while pregnant
Website • Alcohol Misuse Prevention section on Health and Practice website • Launched on April 22nd
Paul Krupski Policy Director- Alcohol Health First Wisconsin P: 608-268-2620 pkrupski@healthfirstwi.org