Communities face many economic, social, and public health problems due to adolescent alcohol use, including traffic crashes, unexpected pregnancies, assaults, school problems and family problems. Despite an age 21 minimum legal drinking age (MLDA), over 90% of 12th graders have consumed some alcohol in their lifetime. Community policies and practices contribute to high rates of alcohol use among youth – particularly those policies and practices that enable underage youth to obtain access to alcohol. One way youth get alcohol is through illegal alcohol sales at licensed alcohol establishments. Preventing these illegal sales is one way in which communities can attempt to lower alcohol use among youth. Complying with the Minimum Drinking Age (CMDA) is a multi-year community trial evaluating the impact of community compliance checks and alcohol manager training on rates of alcohol sales to underage youth. Eleven urban and suburban communities participated in the intervention component of this program. Police and sheriff departments conducted biannual compliance checks at all establishments in these communities over a two-year period. We will compare and contrast illegal sales rates in urban versus suburban communities. In addition, changes in sales rates over time will be evaluated and compared across communities. We will also present policy options (e.g., civil penalties applied to licensee, criminal charges for servers) that were used across the communities for responding to outlets that fail compliance checks.
Learning Objectives: Following this session, participants will be able to discuss community involvement in alcohol control and potential responses to compliance check failures.
Keywords: Alcohol, Community
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.