This slide illustrates the distribution of harmful drinking patterns, by gender, in the United States, and serves as a guide for alcohol policy and prevention.  A wide range of alcohol policies may affect alcohol consumption and other behaviors relating to alcohol, and can have important influences on public health outcomes.  In the United States, laws, regulations, and jurisprudence address various aspects of alcohol use ranging from alcohol taxation to behaviors affected by alcohol, such as drinking and driving.  Scientific research has identified a number of alcohol-related policies that have significant effects on public health outcomes.  Examples of these include a reduction in the number of traffic fatalities (by raising the minimum drinking age to 21, enforcing stricter drinking and driving penalties), a reduction in child abuse and sexually transmitted diseases (by raising taxes on alcohol beverages), and enhancement of access to alcohol treatment programs (State-mandated provision in health care financing).  In general, alcohol policies are designed to serve individuals at all levels of the lifespan through harm reduction and prevention of alcohol-related illness or injury.