NCJ Number
116806
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services & Rehabilitation Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1988) Pages: 133-162
Date Published
1988
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Perceived illegal alcohol procurement methods of underage persons, actual procurement methods, and strategies to prevent illegal alcohol purchases were surveyed.
Abstract
The populations selected were a delinquent group (N = 53), a high school group (N = 141), a community college group (N = 87), alcohol distribution establishments (N = 81), and the law enforcement community. The sample groups were representative of the Harford County, Md., population. The average ages were 15.5 years for the high school group, 16.25 years for the delinquent group, and 18.5 years for the community college group. Using a forced choice format, all groups were asked to select the one method used most often by underage persons to obtain alcoholic beverages (someone older buying it, false identification, or other method). Results indicated the prevalent and major source of illegal alcohol procurement for high school youth and delinquents was via older persons. These groups indicated self-purchase or other methods to be more prevalent than false identification use. The community college group indicated self-purchases as the primary source of alcohol. All sample groups perceived older person procurement as the major source of illegal alcohol purchases by underage persons, while alcohol distribution establishments viewed false identification as more prevalent. Government policies and concomitant enforcement proved to be significant preventive/intervention factors. 23 references, 6 tables, 5 figures.