A recent data analysis by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) found that Wisconsin teens are doing better than their national peers in current alcohol use, binge drinking, and refraining from drinking before the age of 13. This is the first year in the last decade that Wisconsin’s rates of underage drinking in these three categories are below the national average.
Due to this recent improvement, in acknowledgement of the many health and societal costs of underage drinking, and in support of the annual “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” campaign, Governor Walker has proclaimed April to be Underage Alcohol Use and Abuse Awareness Month.
Alcohol use, especially heavy and binge drinking, increases the risk of at least seven different cancers. Drinking before the age of 21 is a risk factor for heavy drinking later in life. Therefore, reducing underage drinking is an important step in addressing Priority 3 of the Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan 2015-2020, Decrease high-risk alcohol consumption. For more information on the connection between alcohol and cancer, check out our infographic.
Read the full press release from DHS for additional details on the proclamation.