SENATE MEMORIAL 86

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL ON THE ECONOMIC, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF NEW MEXICANS AND REPORT TO THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AND THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

     WHEREAS, in 2014, the department of health reported that over the past thirty years New Mexico has had among the highest alcohol-related death rate in the United States and has had the highest alcohol-related death rate since 1997; and

     WHEREAS, since 1990, the department of health reported New Mexico's death rate due to alcohol-related injury has consistently been among the highest in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, in 2013, twenty-two percent of high school youth reported drinking before the age of thirteen, the fourth-highest rate in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, individuals who start drinking before the age of fifteen are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence in adulthood; and

     WHEREAS, high alcohol outlet density may contribute to a higher incidence of alcohol-related crime, including homicide, suicide, domestic violence, driving while impaired, sexual assault, property damage and vandalism, underage drinking and high-risk drinking by adults; and

     WHEREAS, in 2013, the federal centers for disease control and prevention reports that in 2006 New Mexico had the third- highest per capita cost of alcohol abuse in the nation, with an estimated cost of one billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000); and

     WHEREAS, an analysis of the costs of alcohol-related health and social issues would provide important data; and

     WHEREAS, a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the total cost of alcohol-related public health, and societal consequences, compared to the economic fiscal benefits of the alcohol industry to the state's economy and state revenues, would assist in the formulation of policy proposals;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health, in cooperation with the alcohol and gaming division of the regulation and licensing department; the economic development department; the department of transportation; the university of New Mexico bureau of business and economic research; and the legislative finance committee, be requested to:

          A. conduct a comprehensive assessment of current environmental conditions regarding alcohol access and use and their impact on the health and well-being of New Mexicans;

          B. identify evidence-based practices that address any concerning environmental conditions that have a documented negative impact on the health and well-being of New Mexicans while ensuring that the economic interests of the state are addressed;

          C. study the impact of current environmental conditions on youth access to alcohol and problem drinking; and

          D. seek the advice of national experts on evidence-based best practices when considering addressing state alcohol environmental conditions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report be presented to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee before November 15, 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor; the chair of the legislative health and human services committee; the secretary of health; the director of the alcohol and gaming division of the regulation and licensing department; the secretary of economic development; the secretary of transportation; the director of the university of New Mexico bureau of business and economic research; and the chair of the legislative finance committee.

- 4 -