**SESSION ABSTRACT** What's the mix between policy decisions and alcohol damage: International, national, and state perspectives

Title: What's the mix between policy decisions and alcohol damage: international, national and state perspectives

Abstract: This session describes the extent to which alcohol data, including morbidity and mortality data, are analyzed to drive the development of alcohol prevention policy and the availability of evidence-based policy to mitigate harm associated with alcohol consumption, in Canada, and the U.S. at the national and state levels. The session will be moderated by Ann Mahony. In the first paper, Norman Giesbrecht will highlight the Canadian estimates of alcohol-related problems and damage, using survey data and morbidity and mortality statistics, indicating which areas need more effective interventions and policies. In the second paper, Thomas Greenfield will describe the U.S. national surveillance data which may be needed to better establish the burdens represented by the range of alcohol-related outcomes. In the third paper, Ralph Hingson will describe the development of a strategic plan to identify near term epidemiology and prevention research priorities for the U.S. In the last paper, Michael Botticelli will describe the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' approach to alcohol prevention policy and its relationhip to data-driven decisions and evidence-based practice; where Massachusetts has gone and the State's next steps.