In March 2020 Wales introduced a new minimum price for alcohol policy in an effort to cut down excessive drinking. Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol sales dropped by 8.6% and six months after the new pricing was introduced, one in 10 said they have been drinking less as a result.

Alateen is designed for young people living people abusing substances, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the teens the group serves have begun using alcohol and drugs themselves. To make it easier for youth to access the program, some schools are incorporating Alateen programs at school for students to easily participate.

To address a major teen drinking problem, Iceland began pushing teens toward joining clubs and organizations and participating in outdoor recreation like fishing and skating. As a result, the percentage of teens who got drunk at least once a month dropped from 45% to just 5% and similar practices are picking up speed in other areas, like West Virginia.

The Mansfield Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program (UMADAOP) helps individuals in recovery programs access housing through its Genesis Row Project. The non-profit currently owns six houses and following some renovations, plans to house 20 people.

The Bihar, India, state government banned drinking and selling alcohol in 2016 after women in the mostly rural state mounted protests blaming men's alcohol abuse for rampant violence against women. Hundreds of thousands of arrests, carrying severe penalties, resulted from the ban. Previous bans in Bihar and other states failed because of unpopularity and loopholes. This one has some evidence to suggest a 15% decline in drinking, but only a 4% decline in violence, while bootlegging and other crimes have increased. The prohibition protests have spread to other states.

Lately, the notion of being alcohol-free or participating in movements like “dry January” has picked up speed, especially as young people become more aware of the adverse effects of excessive drinking. Bars and companies like Boisson — a dry drinks and mixology shop — sell various alternatives to alcohol ranging from dry wines and beers to spirits made with CBD.

The Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children works in partnership with the Florida Center to identify children with fetal alcohol syndrome disorders and helps family members create care plans for the lifelong effects of the disorder.

Studies show that people who participate in Dry January experience lasting benefits like drinking less in the long run and making other changes to their drinking habits that lead to improved health and wellness. A month of sobriety can lead to opportunities to form new habits and experience health benefits like weight loss, better sleep and mood and energy boosts.

Clean Slate Clinic is an in-home detox service that helps people receive a medicated detox plan including pharmaceuticals and vitamins, as well as daily telehealth sessions, rehabilitation support and check-ins. These detox services are currently undergoing a trial period that will tailor the program according to the unique needs of people in more rural and remote settings.

The WSU Greek Row hard alcohol ban emerged after a student and fraternity member died from alcohol poisoning. To ensure Greek life members are respecting the ban and staying safe, registered functions have sober volunteers to monitor the event and help out in case there’s a dangerous situation.