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Regional Alcohol Policy Meeting

Capital Region

November 13, 2024

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Speakers

Haven Battles, PhD.  Director, Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology Program; Assistant Director, Bureau of Chronic Disease Evaluation and Research, New York State Department of Health.

Sean Haley, MPH, PhD. Co-Founder of the National Alcohol Action Network and Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management. CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.

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Agenda

  • Alcohol Consumption and Associated Harms in New York State”- Presented by Dr. Haven Battles, Ph.D. 
  • Why Policy Matters? Evidence-based Policy Recommendations and Prioritizations” – Presented by Dr. Sean J. Haley, Ph.D. 
  • Breakout Room Discussion – Each group will have a facilitator who will guide discussions on alcohol-related harms, community health, and policy recommendations.
  • Main Room Discussion Summary – Facilitators of each group will share a summary of the discussion.
  • Concluding Remarks: Survey, Alcohol Summit Event 2025, Questions/Discussion (optional)

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ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND �ASSOCIATED HARMS IN NEW YORK STATE

Haven Battles, PhD

Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology Program

Bureau of Chronic Disease Evaluation and Research

New York State Department of Health

Disclaimer: This presentation is partially supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $166,667. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines excessive alcohol use as including:

BINGE �DRINKING*

HEAVY �DRINKING*

UNDERAGE DRINKING

PREGNANT DRINKING

For Men:

5 or more drinks on one occasion

For Women:

4 or more drinks on one occasion

For Men:

15 or more drinks in a week

For Women:

8 or more drinks in a week

Any alcohol use by those under age 21

Any alcohol use by pregnant people

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/drink-less-be-your-best/facts-about-excessive-drinking/index.html

*Note: People assigned female at birth typically experience greater impairment after drinking less alcohol than people assigned male at birth due to differences in body water content, hormones, body size, and metabolism. Data on gender and sexual identities are becoming more readily available, however these guidelines do not yet consider the complexity of biological characteristics, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, or the interactions among these factors. Therefore, people assigned female at birth, people who are intersex, and transgender people should defer to the more conservative guidelines outlined for women.

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What is considered a “drink”?

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Nearly 1 in 5 adult New Yorkers report excessive alcohol use, in the form of either binge or heavy drinking.

Over 8,050 New Yorkers die each year due to excessive alcohol use.

Excessive alcohol use can cause injuries, violence, and chronic disease.

Excessive drinking cost New York $16.3 billion in 2010, or roughly $843 in preventable costs per taxpayer.

Alcohol-related harms disproportionately impact under-resourced areas and people living in them.

Excessive alcohol use is a public health issue in New York State

Source: Centers for Disease Control Addressing Excessive Alcohol Use: State Fact Sheets

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UNDERAGE DRINKING �AND RELATED HARMS �IN NEW YORK STATE

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1 in 7 New York youth initiate drinking early (having their first drink before age 13)

New York State

United States

13.9%

15.0%

  • Early initiation of drinking is concerning. People who start before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder later in life.

  • For example, adults ages 26 and older who began drinking before age 15 are 3.5 times more likely to report having an alcohol use disorder in the past year then those who waited until age 21 or later to begin drinking.*

% of high school students who report having their first drink before age thirteen

Data source: NYS Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021

*https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking

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Alcohol is a widely used substance among NYS youth

Data source: NYS Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021

CURRENTLY DRINK

drank at least one drink during the past 30 days

1 in 5 �high school students

BINGE DRINK

drank 4+ drinks (females) or 5+ drinks (males) in a row within a couple hours during the past 30 days

1 in 10 �high school students

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Underage drinking can cause immediate and chronic health effects among youth

Over 100 New Yorkers under the age of 21 die due to alcohol use each year. This includes deaths from causes such as motor vehicle crashes, homicides, alcohol poisoning, and suicides.

Alcohol use impairs judgment and can increase the risk of physical and sexual assault among youth.

Alcohol use can interfere with normal brain development.

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ADULT EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL USE AND RELATED HARMS IN NYS

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Nearly 1 in 5 adults in New York State (18.4%) report excessive alcohol use, in the form of either binge or heavy drinking

Data source: NYS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022

16.6%�BINGE DRINK

6.1% �HEAVY DRINK

MALES

WHITE, NON-HISPANIC; HISPANIC

YOUNGER ADULTS (Ages 18-34)

HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

HIGHER ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME

FREQUENT MENTAL DISTRESS

ADULTS WHO CURRENTLY SMOKE

Adults who are more likely to report binge or heavy drinking include:

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Among the 2 million NYS adults who report binge drinking…

25% consume�at least 7 DRINKS �per binge drinking �occasion

25% do so at least 4 TIMES�per month

The risk of alcohol-related harms increases with the amount of alcohol one drinks.

However, for some conditions, like some cancers, the risk increases even at very low levels of alcohol consumption.

Data source: NYS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022; https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm

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Under-resourced communities experience greater harms related to excessive alcohol use, despite lower alcohol use rates.

  • Greater harms include a higher prevalence of alcohol-related diseases including heart disease and hypertension, as well short term health effects like injury and violence.

  • The higher rates of harm among under-resourced communities may be explained by:
    • disproportionately greater exposure to alcohol marketing and alcohol environments, and
    • the collective impact of stress, stigma, and discrimination,
    • inadequate access to substance use disorder treatment programs.

Mulia N, Ye Y, Greenfield TK, Zemore SE. Disparities in alcohol-related problems among white, black, and Hispanic Americans. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009 Apr;33(4):654-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2008.00880.x. Epub 2009 Jan 15. PMID: 19183131; PMCID: PMC2771773.

Vaeth PA, Wang-Schweig M, Caetano R. Drinking, Alcohol Use Disorder, and Treatment Access and Utilization Among U.S. Racial/Ethnic Groups. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2017 Jan;41(1):6-19. doi: 10.1111/acer.13285. Epub 2016 Dec 26. PMID: 28019654; PMCID: PMC5205547.

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  • Counties are categorized into three groups, with one third of counties in each category.
  • Lightest color represents the 1/3 of counties with the lowest rates, darkest color represents the 1/3 of counties with the highest rates
  • County rates range from 8.0% to 22.2%.
  • Statewide rate is 14.9%

Within NYS, the prevalence of adult binge drinking varies by county from 8.0% to 22.2%

Data source: NYS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021

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Prevalence of binge drinking, among adults in Capital Region, 2021

Data source: NYS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021

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Within NYS, the prevalence of adult heavy drinking varies by county from 2.0% to 12.5%

  • Counties are categorized into three categories, with one third of counties in each category.
  • Lightest color represents the 1/3 of counties with the lowest rates, darkest color represents the 1/3 of counties with the highest rates
  • County rates range from 2.0% to 12.5%.
  • Statewide rate is 5.5%

Data source: NYS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021

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Prevalence of heavy drinking, among adults in Capital Region, 2021

Data source: NYS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021

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From 2020-2021, the majority of annual excessive alcohol use-attributable deaths in NYS were from chronic vs acute causes

CHRONIC CAUSES

causes with a longer

duration from the time of

onset to the time of death

such as liver disease due to alcohol use and chronic pancreatitis.

ACUTE CAUSES

2,533

5,560

8,093 �deaths �per year

causes with a very short

duration from the time

of onset to the time of

death such as alcohol

poisoning, motor-vehicle

traffic crashes, and

suicide.

Data source: Alcohol Related Disease Impact (ARDI) application, 2024. Available at www.cdc.gov/ARDI.

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NYS youth and adults are more likely to report alcohol use than use of other substances. Yet, efforts to prevent excessive alcohol use and its related harms receive less resources.

20.0% use alcohol

15.7% use tobacco e-vapor products

14.2% use cannabis

5.0% smoke cigarettes

18.4% binge or heavy drink

5.3% use tobacco e-vapor products

12.8% use cannabis

11.3% smoke cigarettes

Youth Substance Use

Adult Substance Use

Data source: NYS Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022 (binge or heavy drink; smoke cigarettes); Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021 (tobacco e-vapor products); Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2020 (cannabis)

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Despite health harms, NYS adults perceive alcohol use to be less serious than other public health substance use related issues

Data source: NYS Division of Chronic Disease Prevention Chronic Disease Public Opinion Poll, 2022

of adults think prescription �opioid misuse

is a serious public health problem

90%

of adults think heroin use �is a serious public health problem

88%

of adults think tobacco use�is a serious public health problem

85%

of adults think� e-cigarette/ vaping use�is a serious public health problem

82%

of adults think �alcohol use �is a serious public health problem

77%

46%

of adults think cannabis use is a serious public health problem

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New Yorkers’ Support For Policy Solutions

Data source: NYS Division of Chronic Disease Prevention Chronic Disease Public Opinion Poll, 2022

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Thank You���To get in touch with the New York State Alcohol Surveillance and Epidemiology team, �email us at AlcoholData@health.ny.gov

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Why focus on alcohol policy?

New York State Regional Alcohol Education Meetings:�Local Action, Statewide Solutions

Sean J. Haley PhD, MPH

Capital Region

November 13, 2024

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Treatment

Prevention

Intervention

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Strong evidence that greater alcohol availability is associated with more harms. �Source: Sherk et al. 2018; Bryden et al. 2012��Evidence-based alcohol policies can reduce excessive alcohol use and promote safer and healthier communities

Source: The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF)

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The current alcohol policy landscape in NYS presents additional challenges to preventing alcohol-related harms

PRE-EMPTIVE STATE

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EVER EXPANDING AVAILABILITY

ALCOHOL �TAXES

To-Go alcohol legislation; Expansion of days and hours of sale

NYS prevents localities from passing laws that differ from the State’s alcohol control policies.

NYS hasn’t increased its beer or wine excise tax since 2009 or its distilled spirits tax since at least 2003.

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  • Increasing alcohol taxes is an effective method of decreasing excessive consumption of alcohol, youth consumption, and related harms such as traffic fatalities. (Blanchette et al. 2020)
  • The current NYS taxes on alcohol only cover 7.5% of the total cost of excessive drinking. (Blanchette et al. 2019)

TAX: Alcohol excise taxes in NYS haven’t kept pace with inflation, effectively making the product cheaper for consumers.

14th LOWEST beer tax in the nation ($0.14/gallon)

6th HIGHEST liquor tax in the nation ($6.44/gallon)

4th LOWEST wine tax in the nation ($0.30/gallon)

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  • In 2022 a temporary state commission was formed to make recommendations to change the state’s alcohol laws and regulations
  • No representative from a health agency was included.
  • Published report in 2023.
  • Out of 18 recommendations, more than half have already become law.

INCREASING AVAILABILITY: Commission to Study Reform of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law

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Legislative Updates – Nov 2023

  • Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Changing Alcoholic Beverage Laws:
    1. Allows for the Retail Sale of Beer on Sundays
    2. Expands Hours of Operation for Liquor and Wine Stores on Sundays
    3. Lengthens duration of a Brewer’s License
    4. Authorizes the Use of a Pressurized Mixing and Dispensing System
    5. Permits the Sale or Promotional Gifting of Certain Complementary Products for Wine and Spirits
    6. Relates to Licensing Restrictions for On-Premises Alcohol Consumption for Manufacturers and Wholesalers of Alcoholic Beverages at Specific Locations
  • Much of this legislation is counter to prevailing evidence that protects health and communities

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Legislative Updates – May 2024

ABC Commission recommendations continue to be adopted

As part of 2024/2025 budget:

    • Extension of to-go alcohol sales through 2030
    • Change in community notification
    • One-Day event permits
    • Temporary wholesaler permits

Other “business and guest-friendly” measures:

    • Allow liquor sales in movie theaters
    • Making alcohol service for outdoor dining permanent
    • Expansion of catering permits
    • Change in Wine/Liquor stores at street level
    • Allow temporary retail permits

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Legislative Updates – Aug 2024

NO MORE THAN THIRTY-SIX CASES (NO MORE THAN NINE LITERS EACH CASE) OF LIQUOR PRODUCED BY SUCH LICENSE HOLDER PER YEAR DIRECTLY TO A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK WHO IS AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE, FOR SUCH RESIDENT'S PERSONAL USE” (9x36= 324 liters of spirits a year or 6.2 liters a week)

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And just last month….

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Not Since Prohibition have we seen so many government sanctioned increases in availability ……..

Strong association between an increase in alcohol availability and harms (including cancer)

What if this was tobacco?

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Considerations

To Reduce Alcohol Related Harms

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Step 1: Immediate Actions to Reduce Harms and to Establish Infrastructure

  • Place a moratorium on any NY state laws that expand alcohol availability or otherwise loosen alcohol regulations across NY State, especially but not limited to recommendations from the 2023 SLA Commission
  • Create NY State Public Health and Safety Alcohol Commission
  • Establish a full statewide alcohol public health program (similar to what exists for tobacco) to:

1) fund widespread community education about alcohol’s contribution to health, policy strategies to reduce alcohol related harms;

2) create stronger alcohol surveillance systems to assess alcohol availability, use, and related harms across populations, but especially youth;

3)conduct media surveillance to identify youth exposure and impact;

4) fund counter marketing to prevent youth initiation and

5) support program evaluation to optimize use of public resources

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Step 1 (continued): Immediate Actions to Reduce Harms and to Establish Infrastructure

  • Secure a commitment from a NY based foundation to make reducing excessive alcohol use a funding priority
  • Educate elected officials on county and district levels about health and economic costs of excessive alcohol use
  • Add a public health liaison position to the NY SLA

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Step 2: Evidence-Based Policy Changes to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms

  • Increase alcohol taxes
  • Make alcohol awareness training programs mandatory for servers and outlets
  • Restrict alcohol marketing and branding to reduce youth exposure, especially within already oversaturated BIPOC communities
  • Reduce alcohol outlet density in residential communities with disproportionate burden
  • Reduce hours of alcohol availability
  • Lower New York State's legal blood alcohol limit from .08 to .05.

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Breakout Room Discussion

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Agenda

  • You will be placed in a breakout room where a facilitator will guide the discussion on alcohol related harms and policies. 
  • You will have 20 minutes to discuss 
  • After joining the main room, each facilitator will summarize the discussion (2-3 min per group)

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Summary and Next steps

  • We will gather your feedback and integrate it into the alcohol prevention framework
  • Please complete the Qualtrics survey to prioritize alcohol policy prevention strategies for NY State. See the link in the chat, if you do not have time now, please check your email.
  • Please join us for the virtual NY Alcohol Policy Summit II on January 14 (info to follow)
  • Thank you for joining us. For questions, please email Ira Memaj at ira.memaj@sph.cuny.edu (see chat)
  • Optional: If your time permits and you have questions or want to share thoughts about alcohol-related policy, we will remain on Zoom for an additional 30 minutes.

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Thank You