Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:
Alcohol Awareness Month
WHEREAS, alcohol is one of the most used addictive substances in the United States; and
WHEREAS, nearly 15 percent of adults in Virginia binge drink at least once a month, according to a 2023 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
WHEREAS, there were 230 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Virginia according to the most recent 2023 data; and
WHEREAS, according to the most recent Virginia Youth Survey, about 11 percent of Virginia students reported having their first full drink of alcohol before age 13, and nearly 16 percent of Virginia high school students had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days; and
WHEREAS, in Virginia, we must increase awareness of issues related to alcohol, promote public safety through the responsible sale and regulation of alcoholic beverages, and provide resources for individuals and organizations to reduce underage and high-risk drinking; and
WHEREAS, alcohol education and prevention programming can help communities, families, and friends support the development of healthy relationships with alcohol; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) maintains an evidence-informed curriculum guide of effective prevention programs to help youth prevent or reduce their use of substances, including alcohol; and
WHEREAS, Virginia supports public safety through the responsible sale and regulation of alcoholic beverages and has tasked the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority with overseeing alcohol misuse prevention across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Alcohol Awareness Month is a national observance held every April to increase public awareness and understanding about the dangers associated with alcohol consumption;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize April 2025, as ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.
