CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Preventing Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Enhanced Enforcement of Laws Prohibiting Sales to Minors
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Enhanced enforcement programs initiate or increase the frequency of retailer compliance checks for laws against the sale of alcohol to minors in a community. Retailer compliance checks, or "sting operations," are conducted by, or coordinated with local law enforcement or alcohol beverage control (ABC) agencies, and violators receive legal or administrative sanctions.
Enhanced enforcement programs are often conducted as part of multicomponent, community-based efforts to reduce underage drinking. Many also include strategies to increase perceived risk of detection by publicizing the increased enforcement activities and cautioning proprietors against selling alcohol to minors. These messages can be delivered using either mass media or by sending letters to all local alcohol retailers.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends enhanced enforcement of laws prohibiting sale of alcohol to minors, on the basis of sufficient evidence of effectiveness in limiting underage alcohol purchases. Further research will be required to assess the degree to which these changes in retailer behavior affect underage drinking.
Enhanced enforcement programs are often conducted as part of multicomponent, community-based efforts to reduce underage drinking. Many also include strategies to increase perceived risk of detection by publicizing the increased enforcement activities and cautioning proprietors against selling alcohol to minors. These messages can be delivered using either mass media or by sending letters to all local alcohol retailers.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends enhanced enforcement of laws prohibiting sale of alcohol to minors, on the basis of sufficient evidence of effectiveness in limiting underage alcohol purchases. Further research will be required to assess the degree to which these changes in retailer behavior affect underage drinking.
Results / Accomplishments
Results from the Systematic Reviews:
Eight studies met the criteria for inclusion in the review.
• Enhanced enforcement programs were effective in reducing retail sales of alcohol to minors.
• All of the studies evaluated the percentage of purchase attempts by underage or youthful-looking decoys that resulted in sales. Some studies also assessed rates of underage drinking.
• Sales to decoys: median decrease of 42% (interquartile interval: -57% to -17%; 8 studies)
• Three studies found that enhanced enforcement programs were associated with modest decreases in underage alcohol consumption, but this effect was directly attributable to enhanced enforcement in only one study.
• Enhanced enforcement programs were effective in on-premises (e.g., bars) and off-premises (e.g., liquor stores) establishments, as well as in rural and urban communities, and among different ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Eight studies met the criteria for inclusion in the review.
• Enhanced enforcement programs were effective in reducing retail sales of alcohol to minors.
• All of the studies evaluated the percentage of purchase attempts by underage or youthful-looking decoys that resulted in sales. Some studies also assessed rates of underage drinking.
• Sales to decoys: median decrease of 42% (interquartile interval: -57% to -17%; 8 studies)
• Three studies found that enhanced enforcement programs were associated with modest decreases in underage alcohol consumption, but this effect was directly attributable to enhanced enforcement in only one study.
• Enhanced enforcement programs were effective in on-premises (e.g., bars) and off-premises (e.g., liquor stores) establishments, as well as in rural and urban communities, and among different ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Adolescent Health
Community / Governance
Health / Adolescent Health
Community / Governance
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Teens