Community Based Projects to Prevent Underage Drinking Community Based Projects to Prevent Underage Drinking Kathryn Stewart MADD National Board Safety and Policy Analysis International and Prevention Research Center Lafayette, California

Age 21 Laws have been effective!

Effects of Age 21 Laws Reduction in alcohol consumption Reduction in alcohol consumption Reduction in drinking driver fatal crashes Reduction in drinking driver fatal crashes Reduction in alcohol-related homicides, suicides, unintentional injuries Reduction in alcohol-related homicides, suicides, unintentional injuries

Evidence of MLDA 21 Law Effectiveness Drinking Drivers Over Age 21 involved in fatal crashes: the decrease between 1982 and 2004 was -33% Drinking Drivers Under Age 21 involved in fatal crashes: the decrease between 1982 and % MLDA 21 accounted for much of the difference (Hedlund, et al., 2001)

Reduction in Impaired Driving since Drinking Age Raised in U.S. Drivers 20 and Younger

Percent of Year Olds Reporting Drinking in the Past 30 Days

Percent of Year Olds Reporting Intoxication in the Last 30 Days

Lowering Drinking Age in New Zealand New Zealand lowered drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999 New Zealand lowered drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999 Traffic crashes have increased as have other alcohol related injuries and problems among youth Traffic crashes have increased as have other alcohol related injuries and problems among youth Drinking and associated problems have trickled down to year olds Drinking and associated problems have trickled down to year olds

Underage Drinking: What Communities Can Do

Examples of Coordinated Community Efforts Preventing alcohol related problems at the US/Mexico Border Preventing alcohol related problems at the US/Mexico Border Controlling alcohol outlet density to prevent alcohol problems Controlling alcohol outlet density to prevent alcohol problems Using policy and enforcement to prevent alcohol problems in college communities Using policy and enforcement to prevent alcohol problems in college communities Using community awareness and enforcement to reduce sales to minors Using community awareness and enforcement to reduce sales to minors

The Border Project Preventing alcohol-related problems at the US/Mexico Border

Sites San Diego -Tijuana San Diego -Tijuana El Paso – Juarez El Paso – Juarez Laredo –Nuevo Laredo Laredo –Nuevo Laredo Brownsville - Matamoros Brownsville - Matamoros

The Problem Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Some border towns provided plentiful, cheap sources of alcohol Some border towns provided plentiful, cheap sources of alcohol

The Problem Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Some border towns provided plentiful, cheap sources of alcohol Some border towns provided plentiful, cheap sources of alcohol Young people traveled to Mexico to drink Young people traveled to Mexico to drink Beverage service not always “responsible” Beverage service not always “responsible”

The Problem Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Some border towns provided plentiful, cheap sources of alcohol Some border towns provided plentiful, cheap sources of alcohol Young people traveled to Mexico to drink Young people traveled to Mexico to drink Beverage service not always “responsible” Beverage service not always “responsible” Heavy drinking occurred Heavy drinking occurred Sometimes resulted in problems, including impaired driving on the way home Sometimes resulted in problems, including impaired driving on the way home

The Implementation Strategy The nature and scope of the problem were explained to groups and agencies on both sides of the border The nature and scope of the problem were explained to groups and agencies on both sides of the border Media advocacy brought the problem to the attention of the public through compelling news coverage Media advocacy brought the problem to the attention of the public through compelling news coverage

The Change Strategies Earlier bar closings Earlier bar closings Stepped up DUI enforcement efforts on the US side of the border Stepped up DUI enforcement efforts on the US side of the border Highly publicized enforcement of laws against crossing by youth under 18 Highly publicized enforcement of laws against crossing by youth under 18 New restrictions on Marines from Camp Pendleton New restrictions on Marines from Camp Pendleton

The Results Dramatic decline in number of nighttime crossings by young people Dramatic decline in number of nighttime crossings by young people Reduction in nighttime crashes involving drivers under 18 Reduction in nighttime crashes involving drivers under 18 90% reduction in number of Marines driving back from the border 90% reduction in number of Marines driving back from the border

Alcohol Outlet Density and Alcohol Problems Controlling Alcohol Problems through Controlling the Alcohol Environment

The Problem Neighborhoods where bars, restaurants and liquor and other stores that sell alcohol are close together suffer more frequent incidences alcohol-related problems.

Problems include Underage drinking Underage drinking Impaired driving Impaired driving Property crime Property crime Violent crime Violent crime Child abuse and neglect Child abuse and neglect

The Implementation Strategy Make communities aware of the problems created by alcohol outlets Make communities aware of the problems created by alcohol outlets Make communities aware of the policy strategies that can control outlet location and density Make communities aware of the policy strategies that can control outlet location and density Licensing policiesLicensing policies Land use policiesLand use policies

The Results Communities can: Set minimum distances between alcohol outlets Set minimum distances between alcohol outlets Limit new licenses for areas that already have outlets too close together; Limit new licenses for areas that already have outlets too close together; Not issue a new license when an outlet goes out of business Not issue a new license when an outlet goes out of business Permanently close outlets that repeatedly violate liquor laws Permanently close outlets that repeatedly violate liquor laws

The Follow-up Policy changes can permanently change the environment Policy changes can permanently change the environment Reductions in alcohol problems can be sustained Reductions in alcohol problems can be sustained Communities are empowered to take control of the alcohol environment Communities are empowered to take control of the alcohol environment

Safer California Universities Project Goal To evaluate the efficacy of a “Risk Management” approach to alcohol problem prevention NIAAA grant #R01 AA12516 with support from CSAP/SAMHSA.

Why Care About College Student Drinking? Over 1,700 deaths among year old college students Over 1,700 deaths among year old college students 590,000 unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol 590,000 unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol More than 690,000 assaulted by another student who has been drinking More than 690,000 assaulted by another student who has been drinking More than 97,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape More than 97,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking

What are we trying to prevent? Intoxication Intoxication Harm related to intoxication Harm related to intoxication

Integrated Intervention Strategies for Off-Campus Parties A Social Host Safe Party Campaign A Social Host Safe Party Campaign Compliance Checks Compliance Checks DUI Check Points DUI Check Points Party Patrols Party Patrols Pass Social Host “Response Cost” Ordinance Pass Social Host “Response Cost” Ordinance

Outcomes Likelihood of getting drunk at bars or restaurants much less. Likelihood of getting drunk at bars or restaurants much less. Likelihood of getting drunk at off campus parties much less. Likelihood of getting drunk at off campus parties much less. Overall likelihood of getting drunk at any location much less. Overall likelihood of getting drunk at any location much less.

In addition… No Displacement

Reducing Youth Access to Alcohol: Integrated Environmental Approaches Reward and Reminder Program Reward and Reminder Program Minor Decoy Operations Minor Decoy Operations Shoulder Tap Operations Shoulder Tap Operations Party Patrols Party Patrols Traffic Surveillance Traffic Surveillance Media Advocacy Media Advocacy

Reward & Reminder

Community Outcomes Reduce sales of alcohol to minors Reduce sales of alcohol to minors Reduce impaired driving and other alcohol-related problems Reduce impaired driving and other alcohol-related problems Involve the whole community in changing the environment Involve the whole community in changing the environment Change community attitudes and culture Change community attitudes and culture

Conclusions Communities can create environments that reduce alcohol related problems through: Understanding the nature of the problems Understanding the nature of the problems Development of appropriate policies Development of appropriate policies Strategic use of law enforcement resources Strategic use of law enforcement resources Strategic use of community awareness Strategic use of community awareness