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What You Can DoCommunity

Community: Introduction

Alcohol is a regular feature of leisure activities in most communities: alcohol ads and billboards with attractive and youthful models promoting alcoholic products are displayed publicly; alcohol companies are allowed to sponsor local fairs, races, sports activities, and other family-focused events; and underage drinking and sales of alcohol to minors is often ignored. In all these ways, youth are socialized by their community to believe that alcohol use is accepted, expected, and even essential to having a good time. To combat these forces, many communities are instead using a variety of strategies to control the visibility and availability of alcohol in their children’s environment.

“It takes a village to raise a child.”
-African proverb

How can you help combat the messages which promote alcohol use to youth in your community? Depending on whether you are a business person or concerned citizen, there are many steps you can take to prevent underage alcohol use in your community.

The following questions are discussed in this section*:

*These questions are adapted from Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free, a coalition of Governors’ spouses, Federal agencies, and public and private organizations. Leadership is a national effort that specifically targets prevention of drinking in the 9- to 15-year-old age group. http://www.alcoholfreechildren.org/

References:
Wagenaar AC, Toomey TL, Murray DM, et al. 1996. Sources of alcohol for underage drinkers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 57:325-333.

Preventing Sales of Alcohol to Minors: What You Should Know About Merchant Education Programs. 1999.  Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation: Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center.

Grover, P.L. (ed). Preventing Problems Related to Alcohol Availability: Environmental Approaches: Practitioners’ Guide. Prevention Enhancement Protocols System (PEPS). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Parents Unite to Prevent Underage Drinking. 2002. Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. Available at: http://www.michiganprincipals.org/parentresources/pdf/ParentsUniteBook.pdf#search=%22what%20agencies%20can%20do%20to%20prevent%20underage%20drinking%22. Accessed on [10/9/06]

Grossberg, P.M., Brown, D.D. & Fleming, M.F. 2004. Brief Physician Advice for High-Risk Drinking Among Young Adults. Annals of Family Medicine. 2(5): 474-480.

Straus, M. KCRA Channel 3 News: Learning Matters Segment. 12/8/2004.

Regulatory Strategies for Preventing Youth Access to Alcohol: Best Practices. 1999. Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Preventing Problems Related to Alcohol Availability: Environmental Approaches. Prevention Enhancement Protocols System (PEPS). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

4 Tiers: College Drinking—Changing the Culture. Available at: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/4tier.aspx. Accessed on [10/3/06]

4 Tiers: College Drinking—Changing the Culture. Available at: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/4tier.aspx. Accessed on [10/3/06]

Hoover, S.A. Policy Strategies to Reduce Underage and Binge Drinking. Community Prevention Institute.