Common sense says we should be more judicious about alcohol intake. But we just may be our own worst enemies when it comes to handling liquor.
The Denver Post published a four-part report (Jan. 7-10) about Coloradans’ disturbing tendency to drink too much and ignore the harmful results. Stunningly, alcohol deaths in the state jumped more than 60% in the four years from 2018 to 2021, the sixth-highest in the nation.
Colorado’s quiet killer
Alcohol-related deaths in Colorado spiked during the pandemic, and the state ranks as one of the worst for deaths due to drinking. In this four-part series, The Denver Post examines why so many Coloradans are dying, and ways to save lives that the state hasn’t pursued.
Post reporter Meg Wingerter unveiled many surprising facts regarding excessive drinking, the resulting negative effects on society, and our failure to mitigate the damage and promote healthier lifestyles.
At a time when state residents and legislators should charge in and urge people to understand how liquor hurts drinkers and those around them, “There’s been no public outcry or push to save lives,” Wingerter wrote.
Though alcohol numbers are staggering, she notes that Colorado “has some of the lowest alcohol taxes and highest drinking deaths. That’s no coincidence, experts say.”
Raising state alcohol taxes could help alleviate the problem, with some heavy drinkers refusing to pay more and thus drinking less. That revenue should be used only to better enforce liquor laws, expand the availability of treatment centers and enhance programs to prevent unhealthy drinking. Even given the challenges of the TABOR Amendment, we need to make this happen.
Colorado last raised the tax on beer from six to eight cents per gallon in 1981. Also, the state last raised the tax on wine in 1990.
But obstacles keep popping up, such as well-meaning objectives not being met by governmental action. The state sometimes winds up expanding access to alcohol. The department that regulates the state’s alcohol outlets can’t afford to fill open positions. Let’s help pull them out of reverse.
In 2018, the State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup laid out four strategies to lessen the impact of excessive drinking: reducing the density of businesses selling alcohol, raising alcohol taxes, limiting the hours when alcohol can be sold and increasing liability for selling alcohol to someone who’s under age or already intoxicated.
Unfortunately, the state and local governments have not done any of these things.
The state has expanded access to alcohol, though the work group recommended just the opposite. When Colorado’s voters approved Proposition 125 in November 2022, it allowed grocery stores, convenience stores, and other businesses to sell wine and other fermented beverages for offsite consumption.
Meanwhile, too many people are drinking themselves into oblivion.
Thus, we challenge the state’s lawmakers to seize control of this issue and try to bring some normalcy to it. It’s going to take a massive effort to apply sensible solutions through legislation and to deal with the sad truth that Colorado has one of the worst rates of drinking-related deaths in the country.
This is an all-hands-on-deck call to state legislators to pass legislation this session to help establish more treatment centers centered around moderation and common sense.
The legislation also should give sellers more incentive to be more responsible in dealing with customers. And, legislators should pass a bill that regulates where alcohol can be displayed in grocery stores.
This is a high priority: Push legislators to give alcoholism the same urgency as the spread of the extremely dangerous fentanyl drug, which has caused so many deaths nationwide. Alcohol doesn’t seem to capture the attention devoted to other drugs.
“We kind of forget about alcohol,” said State Rep. Marc Snyder, who oversees the House committee that regulates alcohol. He said he “found it pretty shocking” to learn that alcohol-related deaths are comparable to drug overdoses in the state.
Do you know someone who drinks too much? Help them find federal, state and local programs that are designed to help people drink responsibly. Help them strengthen their health before it’s too late.
If you think you’re drinking too much, take a look at the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, which seek to lower the risk of long-term health problems. But in the big picture, if you have to ask if you’re drinking too much, then alcohol could be a problem.
The guidelines suggest that women should stop after one drink and men after two in a one-day period. (That may sound sexist, but women have less of an enzyme needed to break down alcohol and have less water in their bodies to dilute it.)
The publication also discusses symptoms to help determine the extent of alcohol use, focusing on characteristics such as strong cravings, causing problems with friends or family, and/or drinking more than intended.
It also says that if you’re concerned about your drinking, then talk to your doctor first about your options, such as visiting a counselor or using medication that reduces cravings. About one-half of people can stop or significantly reduce drinking in two or fewer tries.
We implore legislators to help navigate the troubled waters of our alcohol problem. No more delays. Denial is not an option.
The social impact of alcohol is far-reaching. It’s one of the leading factors in domestic violence, public disturbances, accidents and homelessness. Workplaces suffer from lost productivity due to alcohol-related absenteeism. The cost is staggering, encompassing health care expenses, law enforcement and lost productivity. The ripple effect touches every aspect of society, from strained family relations to increased crime rates.
Alcohol consumption is a complex issue, with far-reaching implications. Addressing it demands concerted efforts from governments, health professionals and communities.
By acknowledging the gravity of the problem and implementing effective strategies, we can mitigate the adverse impact of alcohol.
David Jernigan, professor of Health Law Policy and Management at the Boston University School of Public Health, has said: “Alcohol is our favorite drug. It’s also the drug of choice for people who write the laws. Alcohol is like wallpaper in this society; it’s so prevalent, people stop noticing it’s there.”
We have a state drinking problem, and it affects not only those who drink but also the people around them.
Jim Martin can be reached at [email protected]
Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.