April is Alcohol Awareness Month

For those who choose to imbibe, make responsible choices and informed decisions when it comes to alcohol use, urges the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) in recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month.

“The health consequences of binge drinking or excessive drinking over time is often overlooked because drinking is a legal and socially acceptable choice,” said MLCC Chair Pat Gagliardi. “We remind consumers who use alcohol, to do so responsibly in moderation and be aware of how personal drinking choices can impact others.”

The MLCC joins with the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) in making the month of April an ideal time to reexamine how we choose to include alcohol in our lives and activities, particularly the frequency and quantity of drinks. 

Alcohol use awareness starts with these reminders:

• Alcohol products are increasingly more potent, such as hard liquors. 
• A standard “drink” is: 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content); 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content); or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor (40% alcohol content) -- gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, etc.
• One drink a day for women of all ages and men over age 65; up to two drinks a day for men under age 65 are the standard consumption guidelines.    
• More than four drinks for women and more than five drinks for men in a single outing is considered binge drinking which can be deadly.

April is also prime time to promote awareness, acknowledgement, and non-judgmental support to individuals with alcohol abuse struggles -- ‘the most common type of substance abuse in this country.’* Addiction to alcohol should be considered in the same way as other chronic illnesses, with a spectrum from mild to severe of alcohol abuse. 

More attention should be given to the increasing role of alcohol misuse in the unnatural death of Michiganders. From 2019 to 2020 there was a 36% increase in alcohol-induced deaths in the state, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

For more information and resources available for alcohol abuse treatment, please visit: MDHHS - Treatment (michigan.gov).

“As parents, siblings, teachers, coworkers or friends, all of us have an important role in Alcohol Awareness Month,” said Gagliardi. “Together, we can make a big impact in doing away with irresponsible drinking behaviors.”

Sources:

* Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration 2021 report.

Alcohol Awareness Month was established in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence to encourage open discussion about the dangers of alcohol misuse and to help remove the denial and stigma that can prevent treatment from reaching those who need it. 

Responsibility.org is a national not-for-profit that aims to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking; and empower adults to make a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices as part of a balanced lifestyle. Responsibility.org is funded by several major distillers including Bacardi USA, Inc.; Beam Suntory Inc.; Brown-Forman; Campari Group; Constellation Brands; DIAGEO; Moët Hennessy USA; and Pernod Ricard USA.

The mission of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) is to make alcoholic beverages available for consumption while protecting the consumer and the general public through regulation of those involved in the sale and distribution of these alcohol beverage products.