Alcohol and COVID-19: A dangerous mix

Interactive Dialogues are a series of virtual meetings hosted by USAPA in order to foster the spread of ideas and greater connection among those working in the field of alcohol policy. The Interactive Dialogues are intended to create a space where members of community alcohol and other drug coalitions, local and state public health departments, and other ATOD prevention and public health practitioners can gather and discuss timely alcohol policy issues. There will be significant opportunity to discuss questions from the audience with the goal of taking action on these issues. 

This interactive dialogue will discuss some of the state and national changes in alcohol availability as a result of COVID-19, and serve as a listening session for the other alcohol industry friendly measures occurring at the state and local level. Participants will hear from experts and will have ample time to share their own experiences. The key findings from this discussion will result in resources that can be shared with the broader alcohol policy and prevention field. 

This first Interactive Dialogue offers an opportunity for prevention practitioners to:

• Learn about and better understand the harms associated with changes in alcohol availability as a result of an unexpected pandemic, including the increasingly blurred line between on and off premises sales;
• Share emerging changes to alcohol sales that will not only impact alcohol-related harms in the short-term, but have the potential to set dangerous precedents that will damage the three tier system long-term; and
• Discuss ways communities can take action to prevent the harms associated with increased access to alcohol.
• Discuss ways to ensure that temporary policies do not become permanent.
• Consider possible data collection to make the case about alcohol related harms.