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Representatives from University of Wisconsin Health announced Tuesday the formation of a coalition aimed at increasing public awareness of alcohol abuse in Wisconsin and supporting legislation to promote responsible alcohol use.

The project, All-Wisconsin Alcohol Risk Education, plans to build a statewide coalition of health care organizations, hospitals, law enforcement, business groups and local and state organizations to work with elected officials, according to Donna Katen-Bahensky, president and CEO of UW Hospitals and Clinics.

The coalition will focus on initiatives to reduce drunken driving, decrease underage drinking and stop insurance companies from denying coverage to accident victims who are under the influence of alcohol, Katen-Bahensky said.

According to Jeffrey Grossman, president and CEO of the UW Medical Foundation, Wisconsin currently leads the nation in alcohol consumption, binge drinking and heavy drinking. Wisconsin also has three times the national average arrest rate for liquor-law violations.

“Wisconsin has an unenviable profile when it comes to alcohol,” Grossman said. “While the rest of the country is drinking less, we are drinking more.”

Wisconsin saw an increase in drunken driving related fatalities between 2006 and 2007, so the collation plans to take action to increase the penalty against first-time drunken drivers.

Wisconsin is one of two states where a felony charge is not issued until the fifth drunken driving conviction, according to Robert Golden, dean of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.

“Our goal is to dramatically change the laws, culture and behaviors in Wisconsin,” Golden said, “so that we become one of the best, rather than, embarrassingly, one of the worst states in the nation in regards to alcohol abuse.”

The AWARE project will strive to combat obstacles against drunken driving legislation. The two biggest hurdles, according to Golden, are apathy and ignorance.

The project will work to educate the public on the differences between normal social drinking and alcohol abuse and on the health risks involved in excessive alcohol consumption.

In the current economic recession, Golden said he believes stricter alcohol consumption laws will save the state money.

Wisconsin spent $1.2 billion on underage drinking in 2005, according to Katen-Bahensky. This cost comes from medical care, work loss and pain and suffering associated with alcohol consumption.

The AWARE project has not yet contacted state legislators but is expecting support, as many legislators have shown interest in stricter alcohol consumption laws in the past, according to Katen-Bahensky. Specifically, support is expected to come from Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison.

Invitations were sent out to possible coalition members this week asking for the support of groups and individuals, according to Katen-Bahensky.

With legislative support, the statewide coalition plans to take aggressive action against alcohol abuse, but Golden could not give any specific timeframe for when Wisconsin would see change.

“Instead of leading the country in alcohol abuse, we should lead in progressive reform, as we have in so many other areas, and address this serious problem of alcohol abuse,” Golden said.