A group of health care providers is forming a first-of-its-kind coalition that it hopes will lead to sweeping changes in state law to combat problems of excessive drinking.
The group hopes new legislation will fight drunken driving, compel insurers to cover injuries caused by drunken driving, and decrease underage drinking.
UW Health will announce the coalition, named All-Wisconsin Alcohol Risk Education – or AWARE – at a news conference at 2:30 p.m. today at the state Capitol. In addition to presenting their potential legislative agenda and statistics about drinking in Wisconsin, organizers plan to encourage members of health care organizations, law enforcement, school groups and advocacy groups to join their efforts. The Legislature reconvenes in January, and already some lawmakers are planning to introduce bills to tackle the subject.