Influencing Alcohol Control Policies and Practices at Community Festivals

• NCJ Number: 215580
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 15-32
• Author(s): Traci L. Toomey; Lindsey A. Fabian; Darin J, Erickson; Alexander C. Wagenaar; Linda Fletcher; Kathleen M. Lenk
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): RWJF 004120
• Sponsoring Agency: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of two alcohol control interventions at community festivals--a training program for festival planners and a community organization campaign.

Abstract

Results indicated that while both interventions were feasible and effective at influencing the creation of written alcohol policies and practices, neither of the interventions actually decreased illegal alcohol sales at the events. More written policies were adopted for festivals running the training program than for festivals running the community organization campaign. The authors speculate that the lack of effectiveness at controlling alcohol-related problems may have been due to the short time frame of the interventions. Challenges to implementing the interventions and lessons learned are discussed and include the challenge of convincing festival leaders and elected officials of the importance of implementing policies related to alcohol use at festivals. Research methodology involved the random selection of four festivals to the community organization intervention and four festivals to the training program intervention. These 8 festivals were compared with one another as well as with 24 comparison festivals that had no intervention. The effectiveness of the interventions was measured through a process evaluation, which tracked and evaluated types of alcohol policies resulting from each intervention. Researchers also conducted baseline and follow-up telephone surveys of festival planners and law enforcement officers and conducted baseline and follow-up alcohol purchase attempts at festivals. Changes in policies, city council minutes, local newspapers, and city ordinances addressing alcohol at festivals were examined. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate regression models. Future research should examine whether enforcement efforts could reduce illegal alcohol sale and alcohol-related problems at festivals. Tables, references