Preventing Problems Related to
Alcohol Availability: Environmental Approaches Parent and
Community Guide
Department of Health and Human
Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center
for Substance Abuse Prevention DHHS Publication No. (SMA)
99-3297.
This document is based on a larger scientific Reference Guide entitled
"Reducing Problems Related to Alcohol Availability: Environmental Approaches"
developed under the Prevention Enhancement Protocols System (PEPS) program. PEPS
is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP). Dr. Nelba Chavez is the
Administrator of SAMHSA and Dr. Karol Kumpfer is the Director of CSAP. Dr.
Prakash L. Grover is the Executive Editor of the PEPS series of publications.
The Reference Guide as well as this Parent and Community Guide was developed
under the guidance of a panel of nationally known non-Government experts in this
area, and the conclusions are based on their assessment and interpretation of
the latest available research and practice knowledge on this topic. Therefore,
statements included in this brochure represent the recommendations of the Expert
Panel and do not reflect the opinions, official policy, or position of
SAMHSA/CSAP, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For single copies of this document, contact SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse
for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI), P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD
20847-2345; 1-800-729-6686, 301-468-2600, or TDD 1-800-487-4889; or visit the
website at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/. The
documents are also available electronically from the National Institutes of
Health at http://text.nlm.nih.gov/ftrs/dbacces/csap.
Alcohol is readily available in most communities. We all know—but sometimes
forget—that alcohol plays a very large role in:
Automobile injuries and fatalities
Homicide, manslaughter, and suicide
Assault and robbery
Domestic abuse and injury
Child abuse and neglect
Workplace injuries
Public drunkenness and loitering
Alcohol is a key factor in:
33% of suicides 41% of traffic fatalities 50% of head
injuries
50% of homicides 62% of assaults 68% of
manslaughters
Besides human costs, alcohol-related problems are economically draining—about
$100 billion in 1995. And the cost is rising. These problems strain community
resources such as fire, police, ambulance, and emergency departments, as well as
the court systems.
Efforts directed solely at the individual drinker or alcohol outlet are not
sufficient. Communities need to take action by changing the settings and
circumstances in which alcohol is sold. Research has shown that controlling
alcohol availability goes a long way toward preventing alcohol-related problems.
A few facts on alcohol availability make the challenge to communities even
clearer.
Where access to alcohol is greater, consumption is greater.
When consumption rates are high, problems related to alcohol increase
dramatically.
Local communities have the power to control alcohol availability.
Most communities do not make full use of the power and resources they have
to prevent problems related to alcohol availability.
Alcohol-related problems in the community can be prevented or reduced through
local policies and programs to limit: the retail distribution of alcohol, the
operation of alcohol outlets, and the management of events at which alcohol is
sold.
Local public agencies and community groups are beginning to take action. They
are realizing that they have both the right and the ability to minimize
alcohol-related threats to the public health and safety of their residents. They
are beginning to:
Write zoning ordinances specifically to manage
bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and other places where alcohol is sold.
These ordinances address such concerns as public decorum, litter, noise,
traffic, loitering, harassment, underage access to alcohol, driving under the
influence, alcohol-related crime and violence, and public intoxication.
Establish laws and policies that govern alcohol distribution
methods, happy-hour policies, minimum legal purchase age, alcohol taxes, and
licensing of alcohol outlets.
Enforce and modify laws and policies by working closely with the
local police, the State Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) board, the city
council, and university administrators.
Work closely with the ABC's management efforts to limit the hours
and days of sale for retail outlets.
Enact public ordinances and regulations for special events such as
sporting events and for public locations such as city parks and other
city-owned facilities.
Take part in local planning and zoning efforts to manage the
distribution of retail alcohol outlets. This effort includes the use of
conditional use permits, which require individual review of each application
for an alcohol sales permit.
Promote responsible beverage service by enacting and enforcing laws
that require training for alcohol servers and establishment managers.
Responsible beverage training—backed by effective enforcement—has been shown
to reduce the risk of patron intoxication, intoxication-related problems, and
alcohol sales to underage youth.
Yes! The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention found that six approaches show
the most promise for success:
Preventing underage youth from obtaining alcohol.
Using taxes to raise the price of alcohol.
Promoting and enforcing responsible beverage service.
Changing the conditions of availability—for example, regulating outlet
density, creating restrictions on alcohol sales, and developing regulations
for alcohol at special events and locations.
Changing the hours and days of alcohol sales.
Using a community-based approach—involving concerned citizens and
community groups in an effort to change local laws, regulations, and policies.
Some alcohol outlets have problems in one or more of the following areas:
Serving practices—They endanger staff and patrons through such
practices as selling to minors, selling with the intention to intoxicate, and
selling to already intoxicated patrons.
Environment and facilities—They tolerate drug sales on-site, permit
loitering, allow on-site consumption at outlets that are not licensed to do
so, and violate restrictions on hours and days of sale.
Alcohol promotion and selling practices— They run promotions that
encourage patrons to drink quickly and in large amounts, such as happy-hour
drinking contests and two-for-the-price-of-one drinks, and they market
fortified wine to known alcohol abusers.
Patron behavior management—They resist efforts to work with police
and neighborhood groups to address complaints and reported problems about
patron behavior.
Speak up. Ask questions. Express your concerns. Share your experiences.
Sign up. Put your name on the line. Let program organizers know about your
special interests and talents.
Help collect the facts that document local problems.
Share everything you learn with neighbors and friends.
Stay with the effort. Success takes time and determination.
Talk with your own family about the dangers of minors' using alcohol,
drinking and driving, drinking to intoxication, and other alcohol-related
risks to safety and well-being.
Site Map
Help
Account
Cart
Home
