Senate Resolution No. 457

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
April 2021, as Alcohol Awareness Month in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to help increase
awareness of serious health issues that affect the lives of citizens of
New York State; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2021, as Alcohol Awareness
Month in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Founded and sponsored by NCADD, Alcohol Awareness Month was
established in 1987 to help reduce the stigma so often associated with
alcoholism by encouraging communities to reach out to the American
public each April with information about alcohol, alcoholism and
recovery; and

WHEREAS, Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease, genetically
predisposed and fatal if untreated; however, people can and do recover;
it is estimated that as many as 20 million individuals and family
members are living lives in recovery; and

WHEREAS, Alcohol Awareness Month provides a focused opportunity
across America to increase awareness and understanding of alcoholism,
its causes, effective treatment and recovery; and

WHEREAS, It is an opportunity to decrease stigma and
misunderstandings in order to dismantle the barriers to treatment and
recovery, and thus, make seeking help more readily available to those
who suffer from this disease; and

WHEREAS, Each April, NCADD's National Network of Affiliates and
other supporting organizations across the country will use this
opportunity to address the Nation's No.1 public health problem through a
broad range of media strategies, awareness campaigns, programs and
events in their local communities; and

WHEREAS, An integral part of NCADD Alcohol Awareness Month is
Alcohol-Free Weekend, which takes place on the first weekend of April to
raise public awareness about the use of alcohol and how it may be
affecting individuals, families, businesses and our communities; and

WHEREAS, During Alcohol-Free Weekend, NCADD extends an open
invitation to all Americans to engage in three alcohol-free days; those
individuals or families who experience difficulty or discomfort in this
72-hour experiment are urged to contact local NCADD affiliates,
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon to learn more about alcoholism and
its early symptoms; and

WHEREAS, Alcoholism is a preventable, treatable disease;
alcoholic-related problems are not likely to be reduced by strategies
involving single interventions directed solely at the individual;

economic, political, social, and environmental forces that work together
to encourage and perpetuate these problems must be addressed; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2021, as Alcohol
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.