Financed through the revenues generated by liquor sales in New Hampshire, the Alcohol Abuse, Prevention & Treatment Fund (“Alcohol Fund”) is an innovative, fiscally responsible, common sense approach to addressing substance misuse. The intent behind the creation of the Alcohol Fund was to direct 5% of gross profits of alcohol sales to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery.
The Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund ('Alcohol Fund') supports hundreds of statewide prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. It is administered through the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs.
Every other year, New Hampshire lawmakers must assess state revenues and expenses to build a state budget in HB 1 and HB 2, the state budget bills. This means the state must appropriately allocate five percent of gross profits from alcohol sales to the Alcohol Fund. Despite being a state law, the Alcohol Fund has historically been underfunded - the 2023 budget cycle was the first time since the program's inception that the Alcohol Fund was fully funded at 5% of gross profits.
To ensure New Hampshire remains committed to prevention, treatment and recovery, policymakers need to:
- Utilize the Alcohol Fund for the intended purpose of supporting contracted prevention, treatment, and recovery programs
- Continue to fund the Alcohol Fund at 5% of liquor gross profits ($10.7 million) in 2026 and 2027.
Take Action
Email the Committee of Conference
Call Committee Members
Committee Members:
Rep. Kenneth Weyler: 603-642-3518
Rep. Dan McGuire: 603-782-4918
Rep. Joe Sweeney: 603-327-7184
Rep. Jose Cambrils: 603-731-8287
Rep. Mary Jane Wallner: 603-225-5249
Sen. Sharon Carson: 603-271-3266
Sen. James Gray: 603-271-4980
Sen. Cindy Rosenwald: 603-271-3207
Call Script:
A phone call is the most effective way to contact a legislator when advocating on a specific issue or bill. It is helpful for many people to prepare beforehand. Here is a sample script:
"Hello [Senator or Representative] [Last Name]. My name is [your name here], and I am a New Hampshire resident living in the town of [your town here].
I am calling to ask you to fully fund the Alcohol Fund with 5% of the gross profits of liquor sales.
- The Alcohol Fund is fiscally responsible, innovative, and makes a difference in New Hampshire.
- A key strength of the Alcohol Fund is its comprehensive approach to addressing multiple substance issues, including alcohol, stimulants, and opioids.
- Funding the Alcohol Fund with any other funding source—Opioid Abatement Funds or General Funds—would severely restrict the Fund's scope.
- If the Alcohol Fund is funded by Opioid Abatements Funds and therefore restricted to opioid use only, it is anticipated that more than half of the state's 21 recovery organizations will close.
- If all current Opioid Abatement Trust Fund contracts are cancelled, as is in the House's budget proposal, statewide initiatives that are showing real results will be halted. As recently reported by WMUR, Manchester and Nashua saw reductions in opioid deaths in 2024 - 21% and 49% respectively.
- Kids as young as fourth grade are experimenting with vaping. Prevention efforts in schools are funded through the Alcohol Fund.
- Our neighbors, family members, and friends are struggling with addiction. The health of New Hampshire's communities depends on maintaining this vital funding stream.
- [Include any other personal remarks you'd like!]
Thank you for your time and consideration on this issue."
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Status
Governor Ayotte's budget proposal included full funding ($10.7 million per year) for the Alcohol Fund. However, the House of Representatives voted to fund the Alcohol Fund with money from the state's Opioid Abatement Trust Fund, which would limit approved funding to services for opioid misuse only. However, the Senate budget proposal fully restored the funding. The budget bills, including the Alcohol Fund, are now being worked on by a Committee of Conference.
NHPR: Money set aside to help NH's opioid crisis could be steered elsewhere in the state budget
