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Change Social Norms: Introduction

Strategies and Approaches to Change Social Norms

  1. Correct Misperceptions

  2. Pressure Television and Radio Broadcasters

  3. Restrict Alcohol Sales at Community Youth Events

  4. Promote Alcohol-Free Events

  5. Educate and Work with Retailers

What Communities Can Do

What Parents Can Do

What Agencies Can Do

What Schools Can Do

Strategies & Approaches › Change Social Norms › Restrict Alcohol Sales at Community Youth Events

Restrict Alcohol Sales at Community Youth Events

Restrict alcohol sales at fundraising events attended by underage youth, and restrict alcohol industry sponsorship of community events. Alcohol restrictions at community events include policies that control the availability and use of alcohol at public venues, such as concerts, street fairs and sporting events. Restrictions can be implemented voluntarily by event organizers or through local legislation. Alcohol restrictions at these events can range from a total ban on alcohol consumption to the posting of warning posters that detail the risks associated with consuming alcohol. These restrictions may help to reduce alcohol-related problems such as traffic crashes, vandalism, fighting, and other public disturbances. The following is a list of practices or policies that may be implemented to restrict the availability and use of alcohol by underage youth and obviously intoxicated attendees at community events.

Planning and set-up:

  • Establish non-drinking areas for families and youth
  • Establish designated drinking areas where underage youth are not allowed; prohibit of-age drinkers from leaving these particular areas with alcoholic beverages
  • Limit alcohol sponsorship of events or vendors
  • Have alcohol-free days/nights where no alcohol is served or permitted at the event
  • Establish enforcement procedures for all policies

Alcohol providers and sellers:

  • Require alcohol license holder to have liability insurance (check your state laws for specific legal requirements on liability)
  • Require responsible beverage service training for alcohol sellers and event coordinators
  • Require alcohol sellers to be at least 21 years old
  • Require a manager to be on duty at the alcohol booth at all times
  • Establish age identification checking procedures
  • Prohibit drinking by servers
  • Require the posting of signs indicating the illegality of providing alcohol to minors and obviously intoxicated persons

Security:

  • Establish procedures for handling intoxicated drinkers
  • Require that security staff be adequately trained
  • Ban alcohol consumption in parking lots and ensure that lots are monitored

Food/Beverage:

  • Limit cup size to 12 ounces
  • Use cups for alcoholic beverages that are easily distinguishable from non-alcoholic beverage cups
  • Limit number of servings per person per purchase to one or two at a time
  • Halt the sales of alcohol at least one hour before closing
  • Sell food and non-alcoholic drinks and provide free water
Issue
 Stadium owners and other event organizers oppose bans or restrictions on the sale of alcohol for fear that such restrictions would reduce participation in events or reduce profits because revenue from alcohol sales would be eliminated.

Strategy

Provide event organizers with data to support restricted alcohol usage. For example, a national survey of adults showed that over 80% of respondents were in favor of alcohol restrictions at concerts and stadiums . Although some events may draw smaller crowds as a result of alcohol bans or restrictions, many events would not likely lose a significant number of participants, and may even be a selling point for other patrons. Events with alcohol bans or restrictions could draw more families and other patrons who want to enjoy an event that is safe and free from alcohol-related problems.
References:
Underage Drinking Prevention Action Guide and Planner. 2001. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Available at: http://media.shs.net/prevline/pdfs/phd858.pdf#search=%22underage%20drinking%20prevention%20action%20guide%20and%20planner%22. Accessed on [08/25/06]

Hahn-Smith, S. & Springer, F. 2005. Social Norms Theory. Prevention Tactics 8:9. Center for Applied Research Solutions. Available at:  http://www.ca-cpi.org/Publications/Prevention_Tactics/Host%20Resonsiblility[1].pdf. Accessed on [09/09/06]

Hahn-Smith, S. & Springer, F. 2005. Social Norms Theory. Prevention Tactics 8:9. Center for Applied Research Solutions. Available at:  http://www.ca-cpi.org/Publications/Prevention_Tactics/Host%20Resonsiblility[1].pdf. Accessed on [09/08/06]

National Social Norms Resource Center. Available at: http://www.socialnorms.org/CaseStudies/alcohol.php. Accessed on [09/08/06]

A Campus Case Study in Implementing Social Norms and Environmental Management Approaches. 1999. The University of Arizona Campus Health Service.

Underage Drinking in California: California Town Hall Meetings. Community Prevention Institute. March, 2006.

National Social Norms Resource Center. Available at:  http://www.socialnorms.org/CaseStudies/evanston.php. Accessed on [09/08/06]

Underage Drinking Prevention Action Guide and Planner. 2001. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Available at: http://media.shs.net/prevline/pdfs/phd858.pdf#search=%22underage%20drinking%20prevention%20action%20guide%20and%20planner%22. Accessed on [08/25/06]

Underage Drinking Prevention Action Guide and Planner. 2001. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Available at: http://media.shs.net/prevline/pdfs/phd858.pdf#search=%22underage%20drinking%20prevention%20action%20guide%20and%20planner%22. Accessed on [08/25/06]

Underage Drinking Prevention Action Guide and Planner. 2001. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Available at: http://media.shs.net/prevline/pdfs/phd858.pdf#search=%22underage%20drinking%20prevention%20action%20guide%20and%20planner%22. Accessed on [08/25/06]

Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth. 2005. Alcohol Industry Responsibility Advertising on Television, 2001to 2003. Available at: http://camy.org/research/responsibility2005/responsibility2005.pdf. Accessed on [08/29/06]

Alcohol Restrictions at Community Events. Alcohol Epidemiology Program. University of Minnesota. Available at: http://www.epi.umn.edu/alcohol/policy/atevents.shtm. Accessed on [08/29/06]

Wagenaar AC, Harwood EM, Toomey TL, Denk CE, Zander KM. 2000. Public opinion on alcohol policies in the United States: Results from a national survey. Journal of Public Health Policy, 21(3):303-27.

Environmental Strategies to Prevent Alcohol Problems on College Campuses. 2005. Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. Available at: http://www.udetc.org/documents/EnviroStrat.pdf#search=%22strategies%20to%20promote%20alcohol%20free%20events%22. Accessed on [08/29/06]
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