One source of alcohol for underage youth is licensed alcohol establishments. Studies conducted during the early 1990s indicated that 50% or more of licensed establishments in US communities sold alcohol to underage youth without checking age identification. Both compliance-based (i.e., offering training to licensed establishments) and deterrence-based (i.e., enforcing age-of-sale laws) interventions have been used to reduce underage sales rates. The Complying with the Minimum Drinking Age (CMDA) Project uses a controlled multiple time-series design to evaluate effects of law enforcement compliance checks and owner/manager training on rates of alcohol sales to underage buyers. The CMDA interventions were implemented in two geographic areas and compared to two matched areas. Within the intervention areas, 120 licensed establishments participated in ARM Express, a one-on-one training program we developed for owners and managers that encourages adoption of establishment policies to prevent illegal alcohol sales. The CMDA deterrence-based intervention included over 1,000 compliance checks by law enforcement to date. Core outcome measures are based on direct tests of the propensity of outlets to sell to youth measured with biweekly purchase attempts using standardized protocols. During the three-and-a-half year data collection effort to date, we have data on 3,670 alcohol purchase attempts at 850 establishments. Overall, we are observing a downward trend in sales rates to young buyers, decreasing from 31% to 20%. Preliminary results on the effects of specific CMDA intervention activities will be presented along with implications for the design of future trials and development of prevention policy.
Learning Objectives: 1) be able to describe compliance-based and deterrence-based approaches to reducing illegal alcohol sales. 2) have more understanding of rates of illegal alcohol sales to underage youth and factors that may influence these rates.
Keywords: Alcohol, Youth Access
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.