Study Police often fail to enforce underage drinking laws.

Study Police often fail to enforce underage drinking laws.

Alcohol Enforcement Strategies for Underage Drinking Declining, Study Finds

Underage drinking continues to be a concerning issue in many U.S. communities, but a recent study has revealed that the use of alcohol-related enforcement strategies by law enforcement agencies has been on the decline. The research, which updated a previous study on the topic, examined law enforcement efforts related to underage drinking, impaired driving, and sales to obviously intoxicated individuals between 2010 and 2019[^1^].

Decreasing Enforcement Strategies

The study found that several alcohol-related enforcement strategies have seen a decline over the past decade. In 2010, 42% of agencies utilized compliance checks, in which undercover youth attempt to purchase alcohol under the supervision of law enforcement. However, by 2019, only 36.4% of agencies were still employing this strategy[^1^]. Similarly, enforcement of laws prohibiting adults from providing alcohol to underage individuals dropped from 48.5% to almost 34% during the same period[^1^].

Another concerning finding was the decreasing enforcement of underage possession and/or consumption of alcohol, which dropped from 84.7% in 2010 to 66.5% in 2019[^1^]. These numbers indicate a significant decrease in the utilization of several key enforcement strategies aimed at curbing underage drinking.

Focus on Reducing Access to Alcohol

Lead study author Kathleen Lenk, from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, emphasizes the need for a shift in enforcement strategies. Lenk suggests that instead of solely focusing on punishing underage persons themselves, efforts should be redirected towards reducing access to alcohol[^1^]. Studies have shown that targeting alcohol outlets and adults who supply alcohol is more effective in curbing underage drinking[^1^].

Other Findings

The study also revealed less severe decreases in the use of sobriety checkpoints, which declined slightly, and the enforcement of laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to obviously intoxicated individuals, which fell from 24.8% to 23.8%[^1^]. On a positive note, there was an increase in two types of impaired driving enforcement. Saturation patrols, involving increasing the presence of officers in areas where drinking is more likely, saw an increase from 69.1% in 2010 to 75.5% in 2019. Open container enforcement also increased from 45.6% of agencies to nearly 58%[^1^].

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Call for Improvement

The findings of this study highlight the need for improvement in alcohol enforcement policies concerning underage drinking, impaired driving, and sales to obviously intoxicated persons[^1^]. Stricter enforcement and a renewed focus on reducing access to alcohol for underage individuals are essential in addressing this ongoing problem.

To learn more about underage drinking and its consequences, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

Sources

University of Minnesota School of Public Health, News Release, Aug. 7, 2023.

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Reference:

[^1^] Research paper published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.