Hawai‘i Alcohol Policy Alliance Supports Legislation to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harm in 2026
HAWAI‘I ALCOHOL POLICY ALLIANCE PUSHES TO
REDUCE ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM IN 2026
Lower the BAC to 0.05 | Alcohol Tax Modernization | Cancer Warning Requirements
March 5, 2026 | Honolulu, Hawaiʻi — As the 2026 Hawaiʻi Legislative Session moves forward, the Hawaiʻi Alcohol Policy Alliance (HIAPA or The Alliance) is working with lawmakers and public health partners to advance three evidence-based policy priorities aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm across the state:
Lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for driving from 0.08 to 0.05%
Adjusting Hawaiʻi’s alcohol excise tax for inflation
Requiring cancer warning statements in alcohol advertising
Together, these proposals address impaired driving, rising public costs, and gaps in consumer awareness about alcohol’s health risks.
“Alcohol harm impacts every community in Hawaiʻi — from traffic fatalities to chronic disease,” said HIAPA Director Rick Collins. “These policy solutions are grounded in research and designed to improve safety, reduce healthcare costs, and provide residents with accurate health information.”
Lowering the BAC to 0.05%
Alcohol remains a significant factor in traffic fatalities statewide. Research shows driving ability is measurably impaired at 0.05 BAC, affecting coordination, reaction time, and judgment.
Lowering the legal limit is associated with reductions in alcohol-related crashes and functions as a deterrent to impaired driving. A 2022 statewide poll found 62% of Hawaiʻi voters support lowering the BAC limit.
More than 100 countries have adopted 0.05 or lower BAC standards, and national transportation safety agencies have encouraged U.S. states to follow suit.
Modernizing Hawaiʻi’s Alcohol Tax
Hawaiʻi’s liquor excise tax has not been adjusted since 1998. Today, excessive alcohol use costs the state an estimated $937 million annually in healthcare, public safety, and lost productivity.
A University of Hawaiʻi policy study found that a modest inflation-based adjustment — less than $0.10 per drink — could generate $50–60 million per year while reducing harms such as DUI arrests, emergency room visits, and underage drinking.
The projected annual cost impact for most consumers would be minimal.
Cancer Warning Statements in Alcohol Advertising
HIAPA is also supporting legislation that would require liquor and alcohol advertisements in Hawaiʻi to include a clear cancer-risk warning.
Alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer and is linked to cancers including breast, liver, colorectal, mouth, and throat cancers. Yet fewer than half of Americans recognize alcohol as a cancer risk factor.
The proposed measure would establish standards for cancer-risk warning language in alcohol advertising and create penalties for advertisers that fail to comply. The policy focuses on advertising rather than product labels, an area where states have clear authority to act.
“Consumers deserve accurate, evidence-based health information where alcohol is promoted,” Collins said. “Providing cancer risk information is a reasonable step toward transparency and prevention.”
About the Hawaiʻi Alcohol Policy Alliance
The Hawai‘i Alcohol Policy Alliance (HIAPA or The Alliance) began in 2017 as a group of volunteers in different communities across the state coming together to “say no” to alcohol industry-initiated bills that would loosen alcohol regulations for their financial gain at the expense of the community’s well-being. Fiscally managed by Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, HIAPA aims to educate the community and advocate for evidence-based, responsible alcohol policies to reduce youth use and reduce alcohol-related harms in our communities. For more information about The Alliance, visit www.hiapa.org. Join HIAPA on social media by following on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
# # #