Alcohol Awareness Month calls on all of us to think more intentionally about our social habits, the pressures to drink and the steps we can take toward healthier connections and mental well-being. Here in Pinellas County, this conversation is especially important. Recent local health planning data from 2025 show that just over one in four adults reports drinking excessively – closely mirroring rates seen across the state. Additional community health assessment data from BayCare’s 2025 Pinellas County Community Health Needs Assessment supports these local trends. While these statistics may appear as numbers on a page, they reflect the real experiences of individuals and families navigating stress, isolation and the pressures of social environments where drinking often feels normal. Nationally, recent estimates show that about 57.9 million Americans, roughly one in five adults, reported binge drinking in the past month and excessive alcohol use contributes to more than 178,000 deaths each …