The Problem

Responsible Drinking

Responsible drinking is an accepted social practice in the United States.  Irresponsible drinking, such as drinking to excess or drinking and driving, is not.  Our society is not willing to accept the damages, problems, and costs resulting from irresponsible alcohol consumption.

Alcohol abuse is the nation's #1 drug problem.

 It is a major factor in crashes, drowning, industrial accidents, and serious crimes including murder, suicide, assault, rape and domestic abuse. Alcohol-related crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults.

• Misuse of alcohol costs the nation about $148 billion each year-or roughly $17 million each hour.
• In Oregon, the cost to taxpayers of alcohol-related injuries and fatalities is over $1 billion a year-or more than $100,000 an hour.
• Think what we could do to fix the ills of our state and this country if we could use that money on other things.

People who drive impaired are dangerous killers. Each year, 10,000 Oregonians are seriously injured and 230 more are killed because of alcohol-impaired drivers. They kill and injure more people than all other violent criminals put together. The cost in human suffering is incalculable.

 The Solution

10 years ago over 25,000 Americans were dying each year in alcohol-related crashes.  That number is now down to about 17,000 due to a number of factors, such as:

• Changing attitudes about drinking and driving.
• Lower legal BAC limits.
• Increased use of seat belts. 
• Responsible alcohol service promotes responsible drinking.