Charleston, WV – The West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration (WVABCA) is pleased to announce that Governor Patrick Morrisey has officially recognized April as Alcohol Awareness Month in West Virginia. In issuing a proclamation, the Governor emphasized the need to increase public awareness and understanding about the dangers associated with underage alcohol use and adult alcohol misuse.
Since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has recognized April as Alcohol Awareness Month. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in the United States in 2023 approximately 178,000 people died from alcohol related causes with nearly 4.2 million emergency room visits. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) affected about 28 million adults in the United States (2024). Additionally, in 2024 about 2.9 million adolescents aged 12 to 20 participated in binge drinking.
WVABCA Commissioner Fred Wooton said, “We are grateful for Governor Morrisey’s proclamation.” Commissioner Wooton added, “the WVABCA is committed to educating our youth and building strong communities and families impacted by alcohol misuse.”
Initiatives the WVABCA offers include the DUI Simulator program which has reached over 73,000 people and the NO School Spirits PSA contest which has also reached thousands of students. The PSA contest empowers youth to develop and produce meaningful educational and prevention messaging aimed at preventing underage drinking. The WVABCA licensing and enforcement efforts are geared to protect the public while creating opportunities for businesses to be successful. A new award winning “Best Practices Carding Video” is available for free to businesses to ensure compliance and help avoid underage alcohol sales. All WVABCA educational information can be found at abca.wv.gov.
About WVABCA:
The West Virginia Legislature created the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration in 1935. The WVABCA was organized to give effect to the mandate of the people expressed in the repeal of the state prohibition amendment and to assure the greatest degree of freedom that is consistent with the health, safety, and good morals of the people of West Virginia. The Mission of the WVABCA is to regulate, enforce, and control the sales and distribution, transportation, storage, and consumption of alcoholic liquors and nonintoxicating beer as mandated by the West Virginia Liquor Control and Nonintoxicating Beer Act.
