A house RESOLUTION

 

to declare April as "Alcohol Responsibility Month" in the state of south Carolina and to encourage all South Carolinians to support the goals and ideals of promoting responsible decisions about consuming alcohol.

 

Whereas, since 1987, April has been dedicated to alcohol awareness and to realizing that more than awareness is needed to further reduce drunk driving, binge drinking, and underage drinking; and

 

Whereas, every day, about thirty-two people in the United States die in alcohol-involved crashes, one person every forty-five minutes; and

 

Whereas, in 2020, 11,654 people died in alcohol-impaired-driving traffic deaths, a fourteen percent increase from 2019.  These deaths were all preventable; and

 

Whereas, while longer-term declines noted over the past few decades remain, the 2022 Monitoring the Future study found that alcohol consumption among America's teens is at or below pre-pandemic prevalence rates; and

 

Whereas, in 2022, sixteen percent of teens reported that they had consumed alcohol in the past thirty days; and

 

Whereas, research shows that a lifetime of conversations between parents and their children about alcohol, beginning at an early age, can help prevent underage drinking and alcohol abuse; and

 

Whereas, for adults who choose to drink, they should be empowered to make responsible decisions and should understand the consequences of those choices.  As always, more education is needed to complement awareness, and April offers an opportunity to spotlight the many resources available.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, declare April as "Alcohol Responsibility Month" in the State of South Carolina and encourage all South Carolinians to support the goals and ideals of promoting responsible decisions about consuming alcohol.

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