Mifflin - Need I say more?

Flickr - MJKauz

If you live in Madison, it's hard to miss the recap of this past weekend's Mifflin event and the horrors that took place...

One shattered kneecap after a victim was hit with a baseball bat...
Two separate stabbings and at least two sexual assaults...
Three MPD officers injured...

The list, unfortunately, goes on and on. Mifflin was a disaster but good can come from it. Mifflin is the culmination of a growing alcohol abuse problem that plagues not only Madison, but Dane County and Wisconsin. It's time to step up and prevent risky and problem drinking and, fortunately, there are evidence-based strategies that we can pursue in order to do this.

To reduce alcohol abuse we have to reduce what those in the field call the "Four A's":
Making alcohol less Available, Attractive, misuse less Acceptable and less Affordable. Can you see where Mifflin went wrong?

Flickr - MVWorks

So where do we go from here? Well Mayor Soglin has a good idea in making changes to the conditional permit process so those applying for this permit, sometimes called a "picnic license" have to go before city officials who will make decisions to allow or not allow it. That is a great step in the right direction and we applaud Mayor Soglin for his efforts to address this issue.

What else can we do? Madison made the right move implementing an alcohol-outlet density ordinance in downtown a few years ago, but that very ordinance could potentially sunset if our city officials don't vote it through by July 5th. Alcohol-outlet density ordinances are evidence-based strategies to reduce violent crime in an area saturated by bars. Studies worldwide show that if you reduce the number of alcohol outlets...there's that A again (availability)... you will reduce violence and crime in that area. So we must protect the alcohol-outlet density ordinance, keep it strong and make it permanent.

The Dane County Coalition to Reduce Alcohol Abuse is happy to work with the city and other policy-makers and stake-holders to reduce the very real, very negative and very costly burden of alcohol abuse that was so blatantly depicted in last weekends event. Mifflin can and should be a learning experience for all of us that it is time to address the alcohol misuse present in Madison and help the businesses, families, students and all those that live work and play in this area thrive.

Want to hear more about what went down on Mifflin Saturday? Click here.

For more evidence-based strategies to prevent alcohol abuse, click here.