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Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project

Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project (WisAPP)

Excessive alcohol use remains a significant threat to the health, safety and prosperity of Wisconsin’s residents. In Wisconsin, the alcohol control framework is guided by the Wisconsin Statutes, which provides municipalities with the authority to license and regulate alcohol sales. Wisconsin’s municipalities have the ability and authority to improve their community alcohol environment. Research has identified policies or practices that prevent and reduce alcohol misuse without inconveniencing moderate adult drinkers.

The Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project (WisAPP) supports local elected leaders, public health professionals and others as they identify local alcohol-related issues and implement policies to address them.

Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project Logo

Wisconsin Alcohol Age Compliance Checks (AACC) Manual

This manual is intended to serve as a practical resource for planning, developing, conducting, and using Alcohol Age Compliance Checks (AACC) to reduce and prevent sales and service of alcohol beverages by licensed retailers to people who are underage.
Learn more about the Wisconsin AACC Manual
Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project

Understanding the Problem

Defined as binge drinking, heavy drinking, underage drinking, and drinking while pregnant, the impact of excessive alcohol use ripples throughout society, impacts violence and injury, and negatively impacts the economy.

Understanding the problem
Monitor and evaluate

Policies & Procedures

WisAPP provides comprehensive reporting that covers recommendations for misuse of alcohol in Wisconsin, resources for learning about alcohol to go, alcohol visibility, and provisions municipalities can establish on government property.

Policies & procedures
Committee members talking

Compliance & Enforcement

Alcohol misuse has detrimental impacts on health, brain development, and public safety, but there are safeguards in place by policy makers, and enforcement is critical from server to seller.

Compliance & Enforcement
Standing up to be heard

Licensing & Permits

Alcohol licensing resources for communities to ensure safety, security, and common courtesy for neighboring businesses and residences, including information about municipal alcohol retail licenses.

Licensing & permits
Decision makers talking

Tools & FAQ

WisAPP provides tools in the form of data, information, and strategies to help communities to work together to prevent excessive alcohol use, and training can be requested on a variety of alcohol topics.

WisAPP tools & FAQs

Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project (WisAPP) News

See All MCW News

Governor Evers Declares April Alcohol Awareness Month in Wisconsin

May 21, 2025

Excessive alcohol consumption is a serious public health and safety concern in Wisconsin.

Alcohol Awareness Month Brings Opportunity for Change, Reducing Alcohol-related Harms in Wisconsin

April 1, 2025

Wisconsinites are known for their Midwestern niceness, helping their neighbors, and their love of the outdoors. Unfortunately, Wisconsin is also known for its high rates of excessive alcohol use.

The Number One Drug? Alcohol

September 4, 2024

This podcast covers a conversation about the drug used most often in the United States, alcohol. It covers details about Wisconsin and the excessive alcohol use here, strategies to reduce excessive use and an upcoming event to learn more.

Madison Police Cracking Down on Drunken Driving, Over 400 Arrested

September 3, 2024

Driving while intoxicated is a major problem in Wisconsin as it is higher than our Midwest neighbors. Madison police are making more arrests and it discussed the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project and effective measures to reduce impaired driving.

Borisy-Rudin to Study Whether New Tools Improve Uptake of Alcohol Age Compliance Checks in Wisconsin

August 11, 2024

The study will seek to examine whether new tools developed by WisAPP designed to support local communities in implementing alcohol age compliance checks (AACCs) are effective in increasing their use across Wisconsin.

Getting a System-Wide Handle on Excessive Alcohol Use in Wisconsin

July 11, 2024

The article discusses excessive alcohol consumption and the health harms from binge drinking.

Borisy-Rudin Receives Funding to Study Impact of Local Policies on Alcohol Environment in College Cities

December 19, 2023

Felice Borisy-Rudin, JD, PhD, received AHW funding to address excessive alcohol use in young adults through evaluation of communities, environments, and policies that contribute to binge and underage drinking in WI cities with 4-year colleges and universities.

Wisconsin’s ‘Death Grip with Alcohol’ is Killing More Residents

August 4, 2023

The article discusses Wisconsin's high rank in excessive alcohol use and how it is taking lives. It also covers the harm from binge drinking, policy change, impaired driving and the challenges of finding treatment.

OUR VIEW: Lawmakers Need to Grab the Wheel, Stop Rise in OWI

January 5, 2023

Editorial from Wisconsin State Journal to reduce OWI's in Wisconsin.

More Than 770,000 Wisconsin Drivers Have OWI Conviction as Drunken Driving Crashes Rise

December 28, 2022

The article gives an overview of OWI convictions and impaired driving crashes going up.

Contact Us

Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project
Comprehensive Injury Center
Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
wisapp@mcw.edu

 

This project is funded by:
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Division of Care and Treatment Services

Maureen Busalacchi
mbusalacchi@mcw.edu

 

Felice Borisy-Rudin, JD, PhD
fborisyrudin@mcw.edu

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