About Us
Rethink the Drink is run by the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division. Our goal is to reduce excessive drinking. We want to reduce the harm it causes people, families and communities.
Why are we doing this? It’s not because we’re Prohibitionists. We're simply asking people to consider what's best for their health and consider drinking less. We see the value of Oregon’s beer, wine and alcohol businesses. They matter to our state’s economy and culture.
But excessive drinking is a top cause of death in Oregon that can be prevented. It causes about 3,000 deaths each year. People of all education and income levels drink excessively.
Some groups face more harms than others. They experience higher rates of alcohol-related diseases. This is because of systemic racism, oppression and lack of access to resources. These groups include Black and American Indian and Alaska Native communities. They also include people with lower income and less education.23
The way we talk about alcohol in Oregon doesn't match this reality. Excessive drinking causes unnecessary death and suffering in our state. We can do more to reduce that harm.
Rethink the Drink is connected to two other Oregon health efforts. These are Oregon’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission (ADPC) and Healthier Together Oregon (HTO). All three efforts share similar goals.
HTO is a five-year plan. It is a tool to ensure all Oregonians have the opportunity to live a long, healthy life. HTO emphasizes groups who face barriers to health arising from social inequities. These groups include people of color and people with lower incomes. They include people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and those who live in rural areas.
OHA's Public Health Division works to promote health. We work to prevent the leading causes of death, disease and injury. We do this by creating places, policies and systems that support good health for everyone. That means access to healthy food, physical activity, immunizations, safe water and clean air. Reducing excessive drinking is part of this work.
For more information, visit the Public Health Division website.
Have questions or comments? Want to get involved? You can reach us at info@rethinkthedrink.com.