Create an Alcohol Reduction Strategies Toolkit for Community Use in Northwestern Wisconsin
We hope that by carrying out this work, we can encourage more people to get help and get treatment. We also aspire to provide an environment where alcohol is not socially required, and where families or those in sobriety can safely go.
– Bayfield County
At a Glance
The goal of this project was to implement policies and create system-level changes to reduce the burden of alcohol abuse in Ashland and Bayfield counties. The total annual economic cost of excessive alcohol use in Ashland County is $22.1 million, and $15 million in Bayfield County. Binge drinking is responsible for 76 percent of the economic cost of excessive alcohol consumption and, in 2014, excessive alcohol consumption in Bayfield County caused at least 115 alcohol-related hospitalizations and 210 alcohol related hospitalizations in Ashland County.
In this project, Bayfield and Ashland counties worked in partnership to address the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and misuse. A toolkit consisting of an infographic handout, PowerPoint presentation, and additional resources (ex. signage) was created, reviewed, revised, and professionally printed. It was marketed to community stakeholders in the project area via town hall and community coalition meetings. The grantees saw in northern Wisconsin – particularly in Bayfield County – local changes surrounding alcohol and festivities, including gradual, small changes in policies at local festivals that are creating a safe environment when alcohol is served. There has been an increase locally of thoughtful planning of events involving alcohol, including mandatory carding of attendees, implementing wristbands for those ages 21 and over, and increased availability of non-alcoholic drinks at events.
The Challenge
Alcohol is a pervasive issue that continues to be overlooked or overshadowed in northern Wisconsin, where binge drinking has been culturally accepted. In Bayfield County, 59 percent of people ages 18+ use alcohol. The total annual economic cost of excessive alcohol use in Ashland County is $22.1 million, and $15 million in Bayfield County. Binge drinking is responsible for 76 percent of the economic cost of excessive alcohol consumption, and in 2014, excessive alcohol consumption in Bayfield County caused at least 115 alcohol-related hospitalizations and 210 alcohol related hospitalizations in Ashland County.
Project Goals
The overarching goal of this project was to implement policies and create system-level changes to reduce the burden of alcohol abuse in Ashland and Bayfield counties. By developing and printing a toolkit consisting of an infographic handout, a PowerPoint presentation, and other additional resources (ex. signage), the grantees hoped to broach a difficult topic at town hall and county board meetings. The use of the toolkit in these settings can provide an opportunity to discuss the authority of local representatives in their relationship to alcohol misuse and abuse. The first objective of this project was to develop a toolkit of sustainable alcohol reduction strategies, ordinances, and best practices, the second objective was to market toolkit to communities, the third objective was to evaluate use of toolkit and policy/system change outcomes, and the fourth objective was to share toolkit with other counties.
Results
The project fueled discussion at a local level on a difficult, taboo topic – alcohol misuse. The grantees saw in northern Wisconsin – particularly in Bayfield County – local changes surrounding alcohol and festivities, incited by the implementation of the toolkit. Gradual, small changes in policies at local festivals are creating a safe environment when alcohol is served. Because festivals saw a majority of the changes and draw in people from all over, some of the policy-level changes had the potential to reach outside community members. This grant allowed for increasing partnership at a regional level rather than county-by-county and created opportunities to think of solutions collaboratively with less siloing.
Looking to the Future
There continues to be discussion of alcohol and other drug abuse as an issue in northern Wisconsin. In the face of an opioid crisis, alcohol suddenly becomes easier to talk about as a societal issue. While there is still a lot of work that needs to be completed, more communities are placing a higher value on safe environments and prevention of alcohol-related deaths. Coalitions, parents of children with drug addiction issues – all of these helps to fuel the efforts at the grassroots level.
Lasting Impact
Alcohol is a pervasive issue that continues to be overlooked or overshadowed in northern Wisconsin. By implementing this toolkit, education is provided to the local decision makers on what they can do regarding alcohol misuse and empowering them to make good decisions. Policy-level and system-level changes implemented could impact those both living and visiting the community for festivals and tourism. The education completed with local representatives and festival planners can help to make better decisions surrounding alcohol use at festivities.