The Behavioral Health Division of the North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Speak Volumes alcohol awareness campaign, has a new website app that empowers users to make responsible decisions by knowing the alcohol content of beverages.
The Alculator (alcohol calculator) is a browser-based interactive app. Individuals can select a drink and the size of the drink to learn the volume of alcohol. By knowing the volume of alcohol in different drinks, individuals can make more informed decisions to reduce risks. Use the Alculator here: myalculator.com.
Did you know that some craft beers are the equivalent of two and a half traditional light beers? Or how many drinks are in a 6 ounce pour of wine? The Alculator can give you information on the individual drinks from an expansive compilation of both common and lesser-known drink options.
The Behavioral Health Division’s Policy Director Laura Anderson explained the overall mission behind the Speak Volumes campaign that led to the app’s creation. “We wanted to provide North Dakota adults with information on how not all drinks are created equal. For example, the alcohol in one Long Island Iced Tea can equal four drinks.” Added Anderson, “We’re encouraged and excited to provide individuals with a simple, engaging, and helpful tool they can use to manage and moderate their alcohol intake.”
In 2021, 32% of motor vehicle fatalities in North Dakota were alcohol-related (ND Department of Transportation), and one in six (16.3%) of adult arrests in North Dakota are for driving under the influence (Crime in ND).
Alcohol consumption is associated with a variety of short- and long-term health risks, including motor vehicle crashes, violence, sexual risk behaviors, high blood pressure, and various cancers (e.g., breast cancer) (1). The risk of these harms increases with the amount of alcohol an individual drinks. For some conditions, like some cancers, the risk increases even at very low levels of alcohol consumption (less than 1 drink) (2, 3).
Certain groups of people should not drink any alcohol.
- Individuals who are pregnant or might be pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Those under the age of 21.
- Individuals with certain medical conditions or who take medications that can interact with alcohol.
- Those who are in recovery.
The Behavioral Health Division is responsible for reviewing and identifying service needs and activities in the state's behavioral health system to ensure health and safety, access quality services. It also establishes quality assurance standards for the licensure of substance use disorder program services and facilities and provides policy leadership for public and private partners. For more information, visit hhs.nd.gov/behavioral-health.
|
|
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol Use and Your Health Web Page. Accessed April 18, 2022.
- Di Castelnuovo A, Costanzo S, Bagnardi V, Donati M, Iacoviello L, de Gaetano G. Alcohol dosing and total mortality in men and women. Arch Intern Med 2006;166(22):2437-45.
- Rehm J, Shield K. Alcohol consumption. In: Stewart BW, Wild CB, eds. World Cancer Report 2014. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2014