SAFE GC Coalition: CDC Facts on Addressing Excessive Alcohol Use in NY

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in New York, the average number of deaths from excessive drinking each year is more than 6,700. This information is obtained from the CDC’s Alcohol Related Disease Impact (ARDI) 2010-2019. ARDI is an online application that provides national and state estimates of alcohol-related health impacts, including deaths and years of potential life lost (YPLL). These estimates are calculated for 58 acute and chronic causes and are reported by age and sex for 2015–2019.

New York percentages for the number of high school students (13%) and adults (16%) are 1% below the national average. 16.3 billion drinks were sold ($2.28 per drink) reflecting the annual economic cost of excessive drinking due to lost productivity, criminal justice, and health care costs in 2010. Additionally, total federal and state alcohol taxes in 2010 amounted to $0.17 per drink sold. Among adults in NY who binge drink, 25% consume at least 7 drinks per binge drinking occasion and 25% do so at least 4 times per month.

Excessive alcohol is harmful to your health. It includes binge drinking, defined as consuming 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more drinks for women on an occasion, heavy drinking, defined as 15 or more drinks for men or 8 or more drinks for women per week, and any alcohol use by pregnant women or people younger than 21 years of age. Research demonstrates drinking too much is associated with violence, risky sexual behaviors, alcohol poisoning, injuries (motor vehicle crashes), cancer, liver disease, high blood pressure and alcohol use disorder.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force has several recommendations on what works to prevent excessive alcohol use. The Task Force is an independent, nonfederal, volunteer body of public health and prevention experts that recommend the following:

• Evidence-based strategies to reduce excessive alcohol use and related harms at the population level. These strategies can help communities create social and physical environments that encourage drinking less alcohol. Use of these strategies can reduce binge drinking and related outcomes, such as motor vehicle crashes, injuries, violence, and sexually transmitted infections.
• Regulate Alcohol Outlet Density Alcohol outlet density refers to the number and concentration of alcohol retailers (such as bars, restaurants, and liquor stores) in an area. Greater alcohol outlet density is associated with excessive alcohol use and related harms, including injuries and violence. Some states have local authority to regulate outlets at the local level, while in others, it is controlled by the state.
• New York has exclusive state alcohol retail licensing. This means that it excludes local governments from the retail licensing process and strictly limits or prohibits the use of local land use zoning restrictions.
• Increase Alcohol Taxes-Alcohol taxes affect the price of alcohol and can reduce alcohol consumption, raise revenue, or both. Alcohol taxes can include excise, ad valorem, or sales taxes at the local, state, or federal level, all of which affect the price of alcohol.
• In New York, state beer excise taxes are $0.14 per gallon, distilled spirits (liquor) excise taxes are $6.44 per gallon, and wine excise taxes are $0.30 per gallon. Communities have local authority to levy alcohol taxes with one or more major restrictions.
• Have Commercial Host (Dram Shop) Liability Laws-Commercial host liability, also known as dram shop liability, refers to laws that hold alcohol retailers liable for injuries or harms caused by illegal service to intoxicated or underage customers.
• New York has commercial host liability with no major limitations.
• Maintain Limits on Days and Hours of Sale-States or localities may limit the days or hours that alcohol can legally be sold or served. These laws may apply to on-premises retailers (such as bars, restaurants, or clubs where alcohol is consumed on-site) or off-premises retailers (such as liquor, convenience, or grocery stores where alcohol is consumed off-site).
• New York does not have local authority to regulate the days or hours of alcohol sales.
• Privatize Retail Alcohol Sales (recommended against) The privatization of alcohol retail sales refers to the government allowing private, nongovernment retailers to sell alcoholic beverages (beer, distilled spirits, or wine)

• In New York, the state government licenses private retailers to sell all alcohol beverage types.
• Enhanced Enforcement of Laws Prohibiting Sales to Minors- The minimum legal age when an individual can purchase alcoholic beverages is 21 years. An enhanced enforcement program initiates or increases compliance checks at alcohol retailers (such as bars, restaurants, and liquor stores).

The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition was formed in 2003 to change societal norms about alcohol and substance use. The Coalition is concerned about excessive alcohol use in youth and adults and seeks to educate the community about its negative effects to one’s health and wellness. The Glen Cove Police Department has been a longstanding member of the Coalition and works diligently to monitor alcohol sales to minors and provide prevention education to youth and adults about Social Host Law and its consequences throughout the year. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencovecoalition or visit SAFE’s website to learn more about Alcohol and its negative consequences please visit www.safeglencove.org.