In an effort to decrease underage access to alcohol, communities across the country are implementing compliance checks to reduce rates of illegal alcohol sales to underage youth. Compliance checks conducted by law enforcement agencies involve an individual under the age of 21 who attempts to purchase alcohol while under the supervision of a law enforcement agent. If an illegal sale is made, the server and/or the license holder is penalized. Researchers, health department officials and other concerned groups have conducted similar alcohol compliance checks to assess the propensity of outlets within a community to illegally sell alcohol to underage youth. Research compliance checks may involve either youth who are actually underage or 21-year-olds who appear to be 18 or 19 years old. Although independent studies of both research and enforcement compliance checks have been published, no comparisons have been made across these compliance check methods. We will compare compliance check data from 11 urban and suburban communities in which both research and law enforcement compliance checks have been conducted to determine similarities and differences in assessment of illegal sales rates cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Variations in protocols and techniques across methods will be addressed.
Learning Objectives: Following this session, participants will be able to compare and contrast community-based and research-oriented alcohol compliance checks, as well as articulate how these two types of compliance checks complement each other.
Keywords: Alcohol, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.