Alcohol Awareness Month: Responsibility in Action
By Bill Young, Senior Director, Health Policy
April marks Alcohol Awareness Month, which offers a moment to reflect on all the beer industry does to promote responsible consumption. It’s also a moment to remember that this work is never truly done.
In my 30-plus years in the beer industry, I’ve seen positive momentum that’s created measurable, concrete responsibility initiatives that show up in real ways for policymakers and communities. That work is ongoing and not tied to a single moment. Rather, it is reinforced every day through how we, as the beer industry, lead.
At its core, responsibility is turning principles into action by encouraging moderate consumption, partnering with those outside our industry and supporting our members as they put their commitments into practice.
Encouraging Responsible Consumption
We believe “low and slow” is good advice for consumers. This means opting for alcohol beverages with lower alcohol by volume and consuming those drinks over time. This supports moderation and aligns with broader public health goals to reduce harmful alcohol consumption worldwide by 2030.
The Beer Institute’s (BI) core drinking principles, which we established with our membership, support this thinking and drive our work today:
- Consume alcohol beverages in moderation.
- Understand and keep track of how much alcohol you are consuming.
- Don’t consume alcohol beverages on an empty stomach.
- Discuss any concerns about alcohol beverage consumption with your healthcare provider.
It’s been great to work with the team at the BI to define and strengthen what these principles on consumption mean and how they show up in our actions. In fact, the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and federal experts agreed that we should encourage consumers to “consume less alcohol for better overall health,” an approach that aligns with our principles.
But when I think about what responsibility means, it goes well beyond the policies that we’ve fostered.
Partnering to Reinforce Responsibility
Since joining the BI, it’s been my pleasure to serve in multiple capacities to grow and shape responsibility efforts. One way to accomplish this is to recognize that responsibility is reinforced through partnerships that extend beyond the beer industry.
Today, BI works alongside public safety organizations, law enforcement and community leaders to support programs that make a difference where it matters most.
For example, through longstanding partnerships like the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s (WRAP) SoberRide®, the brewing industry helps ensure safe ride options are available during key holidays when they’re needed most. The BI also partners with the Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition to ensure fans in stadiums, arenas and entertainment venues throughout the country have a great experience, free from the hazards of harmful alcohol consumption.
Yet, responsibility initiatives cannot be done in a silo; they require working beyond the walls of the BI to continue promoting meaningful programs.
Supporting an Industry-Wide Commitment
The BI’s efforts reflect the commitment of our members, who carry responsibility principles into their businesses and communities every day.
The shared commitment of all of us, Team Beer and members alike, is what makes responsibility real. From expanding lower- and no-alcohol beer options to ensuring advertising does not target underage audiences to promoting drunk driving and underage drinking prevention programs, our members continue to raise the bar for what responsibility looks like in practice.
Alcohol Awareness Month is an important moment to reflect, but for our members, responsibility is not limited to a single month. It is an ongoing effort grounded in common-sense principles and strengthened through action. By continuing to encourage moderation, promote education and support proven programs, our members are helping ensure beer remains part of our culture for generations to come.
