April marks National Alcohol Awareness Month in the United States, and the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network is leading the charge with its Alcohol Awareness Toolkit: #ProofIsInTheNumbers. This campaign is designed to spotlight the often-overlooked harms of alcohol and the vital role of strong alcohol policy safeguards. Using engaging, shareable content like weekly-themed memes, the toolkit helps prevention professionals and public health advocates raise awareness throughout April in a way that is both accessible and impactful.

But this toolkit goes beyond social media. It provides practical tools for community action—opinion editorial templates, letters to legislators, and proclamations that can be easily adapted and personalized. These materials are crafted to help stakeholders engage decision makers and highlight the real-world consequences of alcohol misuse. For example, one op-ed addresses the clear link between alcohol use and firearm violence, noting that up to 34% of firearm homicide perpetrators were heavy drinkers prior to their deaths​. Another stresses the link between long-term alcohol use and colorectal cancer, emphasizing that excessive drinking can raise the risk by 50-60%​.

The toolkit also draws attention to the need for stronger alcohol policy enforcement. One resource explores how data-driven compliance checks, like those implemented in Maine, can help reduce harms such as underage drinking and alcohol-involved violence​. Proclamations from several states—including Washington, Alaska, and Oregon—underscore alcohol’s role in addiction, overdose, and suicide, and call for stronger policy measures to reduce its impact​​​.

Whether you’re part of a local coalition, a public health department, or simply someone passionate about healthier communities, the Alcohol Awareness Toolkit is made for you. Its flexible and evidence-based materials empower anyone to take action—whether it’s posting a meme, submitting a letter to the editor, or getting a proclamation passed in your state or city. This April, the PTTC Network invites all of us to join the conversation and push for meaningful change—because the proof really is in the numbers.

Find more from Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network (USA, March 2025)