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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Erika Edwards, MPH, Data Coordinating Center, Boston University, School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, 580-2, Boston, MA 02118, 617-638-5876, eedwards@bu.edu

States legislate individual behavior (graduated driver licenses, illegal attempt to purchase or consume alcohol under 21), sellers (happy hour bans, keg registration, responsible beverage service training), and the alcohol industry (prohibiting misleading advertising and advertising targeted to children) to try to curb underage drinking. Using data from 29 states in the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, I tested the association between the presence of these laws and self-reported current (past 30 days) and episodic heavy drinking (5+ in past 30 days) by high school students. In unadjusted analyses, students report less current and episodic heavy alcohol consumption in states with graduated driver license laws (43.7% v. 47.8%, p<0.01), advertising restrictions (43.3% v. 47.5%, p<0.007), and some combination of four or more laws (42.8 v. 47.6, p<0.001). After controlling for beer taxes and state-level demographic characteristics, students report less current alcohol consumption in states with advertising restrictions (-4.39%, p<0.001) and four or more laws (-3.25%, p<0.03); and less heavy alcohol consumption in states with four or more laws (-4.44%, p<0.006). A previous study found less drinking among college students in states with four or more laws; the same result among high-school students is new. Also, few studies examine the effect of alcohol restrictions, which appear to play a role in reducing underage drinking. This study has many limitations (unable to establish causality, unable to control for other prevention efforts). However, it attempts to offer guidance for policymakers and advocates by quantifying the effects of underage drinking laws.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess impact of state laws designed to reduce underage drinking on reported drinking levels
• Recognize laws that have a greater impact on reported drinking
• Prioritize laws for future policy action

Keywords: Alcohol, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 113.7 kb)