Happy New Year from Health First Wisconsin!

As we look ahead to a new year and a brand-new legislative session, Health First Wisconsin is excited about the challenges and opportunities that we face.

Like many of you, we have an ambitious agenda for 2013. Our New Year’s Resolution is simple: we resolve to continue our work to advocate for policies and changes that improve health where it starts – in our homes, workplaces, playgrounds, schools and parks.

In 2013, Health First Wisconsin aspires to make Wisconsin a place where the healthy choice is the easy choice. We are committed to making sure that every single person – from Kenosha to Platteville to Beloit to Superior to Marinette and everywhere in between – has an opportunity to achieve their best health.

We know that our challenges are tremendous – despite record-low youth smoking rates, tobacco still remains the leading preventable cause of death in Wisconsin. Our state is plagued by alcohol misuse and we have the highest rates of high-risk drinking in the nation. And we spend a reported $1.5 billion annually on obesity-related medical costs.

At Health First Wisconsin we don’t dwell on these statistics. Instead, we use these numbers to inform decision-makers and empower our work. Every single day, we are working hard to promote effective, common sense policy and environmental changes that will reduce the burden of commercial tobacco on our state, curb alcohol misuse, and make meaningful strides to combat obesity.

In 2013, Health First Wisconsin will:  

• Continue the fight against Big Tobacco by working to protect the state’s investment in comprehensive tobacco prevention and control efforts that help smokers quit and stop kids from using tobacco in the first place.
• Further protect youth from tobacco products by making sure that all tobacco products – especially the candy-flavored junk targeting our kids – are taxed fairly.
• Continue to support tribal communities in their efforts to go smoke-free and reduce commercial tobacco use.
• Work to curb alcohol misuse and change Wisconsin’s destructive alcohol culture by continuing to build a strong, statewide coalition on alcohol policy.
• Encourage Wisconsinites to change our permissive attitude toward underage drinking by eliminating loopholes in drinking age laws.
• Help communities reduce drunk driving by advocating for Wisconsin to join many other states in allowing local law enforcement to use sobriety checkpoints if needed.
• Expand our work to stem the rise of obesity in Wisconsin by promoting healthy food systems and physical activity.
• Support Farm to School programs that invest in the local economy and ensure our kids are eating healthy and can achieve academic success.
• Promote healthy and active communities starting at our schools and government buildings.

We have ambitious goals, but we are confident that with the help of our partners and supporters across the state, 2013 will be a banner year for the health of Wisconsin.

Together, we can move the dial on Wisconsin’s health and work to make our state the healthiest in the nation.

Stay tuned for more details and updates on our progress by checking back here, liking us on Facebook and signing up as a supporter. 

The Goodman Center & Alcohol: Enough is Enough

Tonight the Madison Common Council will consider over-riding Mayor Soglin’s veto of the Goodman Community Center's liquor license application.

This debate isn’t just about the merits of granting a liquor license to this community center. Instead, it’s a symbolic decision about placing our community and state’s obsession with alcohol over the needs of our kids and families.

The Goodman Center is a tremendous asset to the Madison community. It is a safe place for troubled teens and kids and it is a resource for residents and families.

Members of the public perceive that the Goodman Center’s primary purpose is to serve the healthy development of children, youth, families, and seniors of the Madison area. That it opens its doors for private social events is an opportunity for the greater Madison area community to enjoy its space.

In Wisconsin, one of the most significant obstacles to the healthy development of our kids, families and seniors is alcohol.

Our community has serious alcohol problems. In Dane County, 200 people are taken to detox each month and 70-80% of arrests are alcohol-related. Wisconsin has the worst binge drinking rates in the country – one fourth of our residents binge drink at the average rate of nine drinks a sitting.

We are drowning in alcohol. You can get alcohol everywhere in Madison – from our drug and grocery stores to our hundreds of cafes, bars and liquor stores. Enough is enough!

Alcohol should not be on-premises at the Goodman Center. The Goodman Center can – and should – work to develop more responsible caterers if it wishes to continue serving alcohol at its private events. We don’t need our community centers to purchase, store and serve alcohol – instead we need our neighborhood centers to focus on promoting the health and wellness of the community.

Our teens and kids are already exposed to too much alcohol in this state and they deserve to have a community center that isn’t doused in liquor. The Goodman Center will be better-positioned to fulfill its role in promoting healthy youth and a healthy community without a liquor license.

The Madison Common Council should vote to keep the Mayor's veto in place. By doing so, our Alders will send a message that our city values healthy communities over access to alcohol.