A group of moms drinking coffee and tea

Reimagine how we connect

 

Have you noticed how often alcohol shows up in everyday life? You might see ads for it while you're out running errands or at a sports event or community festival. Even just walking around your neighborhood. It's online too.

Think about the last celebration you went to — a new baby, a wedding, a kid's birthday, a holiday. Did you notice the role alcohol plays?

What if we took a moment to ask: How did things get this way? Is it always a good thing? Do we always need alcohol to come together?

Here and there, it’s everywhere.

It can feel like alcohol is everywhere these days.

Have you noticed that alcohol is kind of everywhere these days? How did it become such a big part of so many things we do?

An outdoor billboard featuring beer. A social media post saying "my doctor says I need glasses!" with an image of three wine glasses. A t-shirt that says "made with whiskey & ice".

Rethinking how we shape and care for our communities.

Oregon's small businesses help make this state a special place. These include local wineries, distilleries and breweries. They create jobs and bring people together.

But have you also noticed how many alcohol messages we see everyday? In TV shows, on T-shirts, at the rodeo, on social media? Even when you're planning a hike or camping trip? How do these messages shape us?

Did you know:

  • Youth who encounter more alcohol ads are more likely to start drinking young and to binge drink.15
  • Research shows that exposure to alcohol ads can increase adult drinking too.16

About 3,000 people in Oregon die from alcohol-related causes every year4. Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves, how did we get here? We have the power to change how we show up for the people we love and the places we share in Oregon.

Question mark with a separation bar

Let’s rethink the ways that alcohol impacts our communities.

  • Driving deaths that involve alcohol in Oregon have more than tripled in recent years. They increased from 70 in 2010 to 178 in 2024. Oregon has one of the highest rates of alcohol-impaired driving deaths in the nation.17

    Communities that have more places to buy alcohol can have more violence and harm. These harms include domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and property damage.24

    The more places that sell alcohol in a community, the higher the risk for excessive drinking. The way we build our communities can affect our health.

    OHA created an alcohol density map with a federal grant from the CDC and HHS.  This easy-to-use tool shows where alcohol is sold in Oregon. It supports OHA’s mission to protect the health of people across the state.

  • For some, excessive drinking can take years to cause heart disease or cancer. For others, it can lead to death in a matter of hours or minutes. Alcohol is involved in approximately 24% of deaths by suicide.19 It also contributes to violence, falls and other injuries.

  • People of all backgrounds drink excessively in Oregon. That means all races, ethnicities, sexualities, gender identities, and income levels.

    However, some communities experience more harm than others. This is the result of systemic racism, discrimination, and an unjust lack of resources. These harms include cancer, addiction, and violence. Racial, sexual and gender minorities experience these inequities. So do people with lower incomes.20

Let’s reimagine healthier communities.

We can change how we gather, talk and care for one another so that everyone can be healthier.

An outdoor market animation with booths for beer and wine vendors. More booths appear in front of those booths with healthy beverage options.
A man playing a guitar outside for a crowd of people.

Find out what’s happening in your neighborhood.

Communities are powerful when they come together to solve problems. Find groups in your neighborhood that are working to create a healthier community. Join in.

Or ask your neighbors and networks: How could we address this problem together? What do we want to do differently?

Talk to community leaders. Ask them how they are trying to build healthier communities. What are they doing to reduce excessive alcohol use? Find out how many alcohol retailers are in your community. You can be a part of reimagining your neighborhood!

Two friends talking over coffee and tea.

Make gathering easier for your friends who are trying to drink less.

Remember that loved ones who are trying to drink less need your support. Next time you make plans with friends, consider hitting up a coffee shop. Join a recreational sports team or go hiking together. Getting together doesn’t always have to include alcohol.

A bus and billboard with available advertising spaces.

It’s possible, just look around.

Across the country, communities are coming together to address local excessive alcohol issues. Many are using proven approaches. Learn more about these evidence based interventions.

New York City removed alcohol advertising from subway signs, buses, stations and shelters. The goal: To support health equity and reduce hospital visits. In California, Los Angeles and the Bay Area passed similar policies.21

In 2020, people in Anchorage voted to increase alcohol sales taxes. They directed the new revenue to reducing child abuse, domestic violence and houselessness.22

Read about other community solutions here.

Ways we can all rethink the drink

It’s not just about one person's journey. Let’s do this together! We can support each other as we rethink the drink.

Use these resources to get started