COSAM Supports Legislation Enhancing Prevention of Harmful Alcohol Use

On April 9th, the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine (COSAM) sent a letter to members of the Senate Committee on Finance in support of SB24-181. This legislation would enhance statewide investments in prevention by imposing new fees on alcohol manufacturers and wholesalers.

In the letter, COSAM cited the negative effects that alcohol misuse has both in Colorado and nationwide. Specifically, COSAM emphasized that alcohol use is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. Further, alcohol misuse is extremely costly to taxpayers in the states. COSAM noted that an effective strategy to reduce alcohol consumption is through raising its cost. As such, SB24-181 imposes additional fees on producers, which in turn could raise costs across the board. In sum, SB24-181 is beneficial legislation that can raise funds for statewide prevention while also decreasing alcohol use.

Read the letter here.