CDC Study: Excessive drinking costs U.S. $223.5 billion
Strategizer 55 - Regulation Alcohol Outlet Density: Action Guide
2010 Nebraska Young Adult Alcohol Opinion Survey
NEWS RELEASE
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Diane Riibe, Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wed., Oct. 19, 2011
“BINGE DRINKING RESULTS IN BINGE SPENDING,” says CDC
New CDC Action Guide on Reducing Alcohol Outlet Density Features Omaha
OMAHA, NEB. – A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publication called, “Strategizer 55 — Regulating Alcohol Outlet Density: Action Guide” features Omaha’s LOCAL Campaign effort to address increased alcohol outlets. The CDC has endorsed limiting alcohol outlet density – either by reducing current density levels or limiting further outlet growth – as an effective strategy for reducing alcohol-related harms, including binge drinking.
The Action Guide was followed by a CDC study released Monday regarding the cost of excessive alcohol consumption. The CDC estimates excessive drinking cost society nearly $224 billion in 2006, which equates to nearly $2 per drink.
“Binge drinking results in binge spending,” said CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden in a CDC news release.
In Nebraska, nearly 74 percent of Nebraska students have consumed alcohol by the time they leave high school. Nearly 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by these students is done in the form of binge drinking. Among past month alcohol users in Nebraska age 19-25, nearly two-thirds (64.8%) reported binge drinking. This figure indicates that the majority of 19-25-year-old drinkers in Nebraska are drinking to excess, according to the 2010 Nebraska Young Adult Alcohol Opinion Survey conducted by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services System.
“Addressing alcohol outlet density to reduce youth access to alcohol and discourage adults from consuming in a high-risk manner is of great importance to public health advocates and the supporters of The LOCAL Campaign effort,” said Diane Riibe, executive director for Project Extra Mile and contributor to the CDC’s Alcohol Outlet Density Action Guide.
The guide will be used nationally by public health departments, coalitions and other organizations to help communities lead in addressing alcohol outlet density. The guide provides information and tools that can help communities transform the health and safety of their environment by regulating and limiting the number of places that serve and sell alcohol.
The new alcohol outlet density Strategizer is available on the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth’s website, http://www.camy.org/bin/s/a/Outlet%20Density%20Strategizer_Final.pdf.
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