NCJ Number
175317
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: December 1998 Pages: 20-27
Date Published
1998
Length
8 pages
Annotation
An evaluation of an environmental approach to reducing underage alcohol consumption concluded that such an approach appears promising, but a number of issues remain and more research is needed to determine how and under what circumstances desired outcomes may be obtained.
Abstract
The Community Trials Project differed from traditional school-based education programs in several ways. Its five components focused on community mobilization component, responsible beverage service, drinking and driving, and alcohol access resulting from zoning and other municipal controls of outlet number and density. The project represented a partnership of community activism and science. It was conducted in two communities in California and one in South Carolina. Each community was matched to a comparison community. The evaluation of the youth access component involved an underage purchase survey of off-premises outlets. Results revealed reduced youth access and indicated that increased enforcement combined with media advocacy efforts and other community activities led to significant reductions in the sales of alcohol to those who appeared to be minors in at least two of the three communities. Findings suggested the appropriateness of environmental approaches. Further issues on which more information is needed include the impact of such interventions on the actual drinking behaviors of youth, the effectiveness of such interventions in communities with large numbers of outlets, and the impacts of such interventions in the broader context of informal access. Further issues that should receive research attention include the effectiveness of mandatory training and the impact of such interventions on outcomes such as traffic accidents involving youth. Photographs, notes, and 27 references