Drinking alone is now being considered as a treatment option in a wide range of states in the U.S. The administration is also considering imposing an additional $15 fee on private liquor stores to discourage the sale of alcohol, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, which was first reported by Politico.
It is not yet clear if the White House would take the additional step.
Alcohol is a major cause of deaths among young people in the United States, and the drug overdose crisis has resulted in more than 4,700 deaths so far this year, according the National Institutes of Health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol consumption is a leading cause of death among middle and high school students in the country, as well as among men and women of color.
The Trump Administration has been considering imposing the fee, which is likely to be placed on the ballot in November, in several states.
The proposal is part of a broader crackdown on the sale and distribution of alcohol in the coming years, including the introduction of new rules that would require retailers to post signs and require that people at least 21 years old get a government ID to purchase alcoholic beverages.
In some states, the cost of alcohol has already skyrocketed by more than 20% since the beginning of the year, and in the last few months, there has been a sharp increase in deaths and violence.
The new proposal would not require a person to go through the hassle of getting a government identification card, which would be more difficult for many of the state’s residents.
Instead, the White of the administration is looking at ways to limit the sales of alcohol to those who are at least 18 years old, the source said.
The measure would be one of the most drastic actions yet taken by the administration to address the epidemic of alcohol abuse.
Last week, the administration announced that it was launching a new effort to fight the opioid epidemic.
It would include efforts to increase the availability of addiction treatment, create incentives for states to crack down on binge drinking, and create new regulations to make it easier for people to buy alcohol from retailers.
The president’s announcement followed a call by Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier this month for all states to “put an end to the senseless carnage that we see on our streets.”
Sessions announced the goal in a speech to law enforcement officials on January 28.
“This administration is committed to ending the senseless violence and the senseless deaths that we witness on our country’s streets,” Sessions said at the time.
“We must stop the senseless harm and abuse and stop the pain, too.
This will be the first of many steps to end the scourge of alcohol.”