Binging’s Budget Burden: Study Estimates Excess Alcohol Consumption Costs Wisconsin $6.8 Billion per Year

by | March 12, 2013

Home 9 Tax and Budget 9 Binging’s Budget Burden: Study Estimates Excess Alcohol Consumption Costs Wisconsin $6.8 Billion per Year ( Page 14 )

Wisconsin’s first-ever comprehensive report detailing the costs of excessive alcohol use was released today by Health First Wisconsin and its partners. It estimates that excessive alcohol use cost Wisconsinites $6.8 billion a year in 2012, or approximately $1,200 a person. Taxpayers pick up more than 40 percent of the costs, or approximately $2.9 billion a year

To put those numbers into context, here are a few comparisons:
   •  The $6.8 billion in annual costs from excessive alcohol consumption eclipses the state’s Department of Public Instruction budget ($6.2 billion, all funds).
   •  The cost of $1,200 per person is 40 times the average annual savings (per capita) from the income tax cut recommended by the Governor.
   •  Focusing just on the $2.9 billion share borne by taxpayers, that’s roughly the total of state General Fund spending for all of these three major parts of the Wisconsin budget: the University System, the Department of Corrections and state Shared Revenue for municipalities. “We’ve always known that Wisconsin has a serious problem with alcohol, but until today, most of us could only guess about the scale of the problem and the cost we all pay,” Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of Health First Wisconsin, said. “The results of the report are staggering.” Read more in the Health First WI press release.

The Burden of Excessive Alcohol Use in Wisconsin was created by academic researchers from the UW Population Health Institute. The researchers, Penny Black and Jason Paltzer, used rigorous scientific methods to calculate the financial burden of excessive alcohol use and how those costs are paid for in Wisconsin. 

Resources relating to the new report, including summary sheets and county data, can be found on the Health First Wisconsin website. 

Jon Peacock

Kids Forward
Kids Forward

Join us to build a Wisconsin where every child and family thrives.

Donate Now

Recent

K-12 Education in the Fox Valley

K-12 Education in the Fox Valley

by | May 9, 2023

Every student in the Fox Valley region deserves to receive the educational support and resources needed to help them achieve a bright future. Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant impacts on students in Wisconsin. These challenges were particularly acute for students who were more likely to be struggling prior to the pandemic, like students with lower incomes, students of color, and students who speak English as a second language. With federal pandemic relief funds drying up, state leaders must ensure schools have adequate resources and that students don’t fall even more behind.

Early Care & Education in the Fox Valley

Early Care & Education in the Fox Valley

by | May 9, 2023

Every child deserves a solid foundation in life, regardless of income. Affordable and accessible early care and education ensures that parents can get to work and sets children up for a strong start. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how child care is critical for children and families and why early care and education providers are an essential part of our local communities and a thriving economy.

Sign up for Emails

Your address helps us identify your legislators and the most relevant messages to send you.