Commissioned by the United Way of Northwest Vermont, focus groups were conducted in four different counties in Vermont in March 2026. The discussions were intended to explore the general public’s awareness of:

• the high rates of alcohol consumption in Vermont

• the social and economic impacts of that consumption

• the causal link between alcohol and cancer

• recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder

as well as the public’s feelings and opinions about these different facets of the issue, and proposed solutions.