STAT outlines 12 actionable steps to curb U.S. alcohol-related deaths

STAT's investigative series examined the U.S. alcohol epidemic by interviewing over a hundred researchers, clinicians, patients, industry insiders and lawmakers. The reporters also reviewed scientific studies, treatment protocols, laws and lobbying records.

The series highlights that excessive drinking claims more than 178,000 American lives each year, a toll the authors say can be reduced without sweeping reforms.

Based on the research, the authors propose twelve concrete actions ranging from policy adjustments to public-health initiatives that could lower heavy-drinking rates.

They argue that implementing these steps would save lives and address a long-standing public-health failure.