NCJ Number
63044
Date Published
1978
Length
120 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT DISCUSSES YOUTHFUL ALCOHOLISM AND THE THREATS TO HIGHWAY AND PUBLIC SAFETY FROM INTOXICATED YOUTHS IN WISCONSIN.
Abstract
IN 1978, THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSES HEARD TESTIMONY ON YOUTHFUL ALCOHOL ABUSE AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, PARENT GROUPS, TAVERN KEEPERS, AND ALCOHOL BEVERAGE RETAILERS. IN WISCONSIN, 18-YEAR OLDS HAVE BEEN LEGALLY ENTITLED TO PURCHASE BEER SINCE 1933 AND LIQUOR AND WINE SINCE 1972. ACCORDING TO SURVEYS AND TESTIMONY, TEENAGE PROBLEM DRINKERS AND ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIMES AND DISTURBANCES BY JUVENILES ARE INCREASING. ALTHOUGH YOUTHS ARE MORE FREQUENTLY INVOLVED IN FATAL AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS THAN ADULTS, NO SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ALCOHOL-RELATED TRAFFIC FATALITIES HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED. THE REPORT EXAMINED INFLUENCES ON YOUTHFUL ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, PATTERNS OF CONSUMPTION, AND LAWS REGULATING SALES OF ALCOHOL. SURVEYS OF WISCONSIN'S HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUPPORTED THE COMMITTEE'S FINDINGS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE BEGIN DRINKING AT AN EARLIER AGE AND CONSUME MORE ALCOHOL THAN AT ANY TIME IN RECENT HISTORY. MOST, HOWEVER, DO NOT EXPERIENCE ANY SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, OR LEGAL PROBLEMS FROM DRINKING. JUVENILE DRINKING PATTERNS ARE INFLUENCED BY ADULT ROLE MODELS, PARENTAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS, ADVERTISING, AND PEER PRESSURE. DRINKING IS ALSO REGARDED AS A RITE OF PASSAGE TO ADULTHOOD. YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE EASY ACCESS TO LIQUOR DESPITE STATE LAWS AND MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DRINK. APPROACHES TO PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND CONTROL OF YOUTHFUL ALCOHOL ABUSE ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING SCHOOL, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY PROGRAMS. ADULTS ARE OFTEN RELUCTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM OF JUVENILE ALCOHOLISM OR ASSIST IN APPREHENDING YOUTHS FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION AND RETAILERS FOR SELLING ALCOHOL TO MINORS. THE COMMITTEE MADE NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE STATE TO PREVENT AND TREAT YOUTHFUL ALCOHOL ABUSE, RANGING FROM PARENTAL DISAPPROVAL TO STRICTER PROSECUTION OF LIQUOR LAW VIOLATORS. THE COMMITTEE FELT THAT RAISING THE DRINKING AGE WAS NOT AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. THE REPORT PROVIDES SUMMARIES OF TESTIMONY ON THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE, WITNESSES' RECOMMENDATIONS, AND AN ATTITUDE SURVEY OF PERSONS ATTENDING THE HEARINGS. FOOTNOTES, RELEVANT STATISTICAL DATA, AND A PAPER ON THE EFFECTS OF LOWERING THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE ON 18-TO 20-YEAR OLD WISCONSIN DRIVERS ARE APPENDED. (MJM)