Underage Drinking - Information Resources

Communities Can Respond to
Youth Drinking

FIRST: Hold adults ACCOUNTABLE for providing alcohol to youth or hosting underage drinking parties.

Ask police to create a Party Patrol targeting underage drinking parties in private homes and open areas. Support police efforts to determine the identity of adults providing alcohol to youth.
Adopt a Keg Registration Ordinance and support police efforts to identify adults (often of-age siblings and friends) that supply alcohol to youth.
Support alcohol compliance checks at local bars and package stores. Some communities combine alcohol and tobacco compliance checks.
Attack the house party problem with eightened police enforcement of state laws prohibiting unlicensed taverns. State law requires a license to sell alcohol and selling an empty plastic cup at a keg party is running an unlicensed tavern, a violation of state law.
If parent-hosted underage drinking parties are a problem, consider a Parents Who Host Lose the Most: Don't be a Party to Underage Drinking campaign. Learn more about this effective, low cost program at www.ohioparents.org/programs/parents_host.php

SECOND: Reduce youth ACCESS to alcohol.

Adopt a Keg Registration Ordinance.
Use zoning requirements and other local government tools to limit the number of places alcohol can be purchased
Example: Require a minimum of 500 to 1,000 feet between outlets licensed to sell alcohol. Structure the limit to meet your community concerns. Do you include bars, clubs, restaurants, and retailers, or only some of these possible outlets?
Municipalities can provide information on local alcohol ordinances in the information provided to newly licensed bartenders.
At community festivals, separate areas serving alcohol, like the beer tent, from areas where children and youth are likely to be present. Keep alcohol signage waist high and facing towards adults in the area approved for alcohol service.
Restrict hours of alcohol sales.
Advertise to increase adult awareness of significant financial penalties for adults convicted of providing alcohol for youth.
Provide parents guidance and ideas for sensible alcohol storage through schools, religious organizations and after-school activities.

THIRD: Reduce alcohol's ATTRACTIVENESS to youth.

Prohibit alcohol advertising on all municipal property.
Examples: Municipal buildings, libraries, public transit systems, recreational centers, cultural and event venues, stadiums and arenas.
Adopt local policies prohibiting alcohol sponsorship of events held on publicly held property.
Guidance on this topic is available at http://camy.org/action/legalresources.php
Adopt a 500-foot ban on alcohol billboards near schools, parks, and places of worship. Beer and liquor trade groups have pledged not to place member billboards within 500 feet of parks and schools. Local action preserves the industry code, while placing code enforcement in the hands of local authorities.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The following resources are available online for local use and distribution:

These and other resources are available in print to Wisconsin Residents through the Wisconsin Clearinghouse RADAR Network Center.