Underage
Drinking: Success Stories
Bristol, Connecticut – June
5, 2001
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With
support from the OJJDP Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Initiative,
community organizations, enforcement agencies, youth, and other concerned
citizens are working collaboratively to change local ordinances and
enforcement practices.
|
Bristol , Connecticut Closes Loophole to Facilitate Party Patrol Enforcement |
The
city of
Bristol,
Connecticut,
has been actively addressing
the problem of underage drinking for several years.
The most recent policy change prohibits ??possession?? of
alcoholic beverages by minors. Though
the ordinance may seem a bit redundant as state law prohibits the
??provision?? of alcohol to persons younger than age 21, anyone
familiar with the task of social availability enforcement understands that
?provision? and ?possession? can have vastly different meanings.
The new ordinance went into effect in January and greatly enhances
law enforcement?s ability to cite minors who participate in underage
drinking parties on private property.
It is also an excellent example of how concerned citizens and
committed political leaders can effect positive change.
A
former truant officer,
Bristol
?s Mayor Frank Nocastro?s
interest in youth-related issues is well known.
Several years ago, he convened a committee to review local
alcohol-related ordinances and identify policies that would strengthen
existing law. The mayor?s Zero Tolerance Commission on Underage
Drinking, chaired by a member of the City Council consisted of
representatives from the business community, health-related agencies, the
police department, schools, private organizations, parents, and other
citizens. That the city
prohibit possession of alcohol by minors was among the commission?s
recommendations. It was
believed that this policy would enable more effective social availability
enforcement.
Prior
to the ordinance?s passage, the local prevention coalition, The Bristol
Community Wellness Coalition, launched a citywide public awareness
campaign targeting parents as
well as youth. One program
that aired on public access television featured a local representative to
the state assembly, a city council member, and a local health organization
serving youth, all of whom expressed complete support for the law and
certainty that it could and would be enforced in a fair manner.
The city?s policy chief concurred in a public hearing on the
proposed ordinance. And
although some youth and parents were distressed that the city council was
considering the policy, many other youth and parents recognized and
expressed a need for the policy. In
the end, the ordinance was passed by the city council with widespread
support.
Support
from
Connecticut
?s Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws grant has enabled enforcement of the
new ordinance as well as greater enforcement of all other alcohol-related
laws, such as retail compliance checks. The police department will also
provide quarterly reports on alcohol enforcement efforts and further
increase the level of alcohol enforcement during the summer months when
youth are out of school.
The
change in policy and enforcement practice has been widely publicized among
youth through the Bristol Community Wellness Coalition?s activities.
These activities also include the ?provision? of alternative
activities developed by youth for youth and educational efforts directed
at parents. The current
billboard campaign encourages parents to be aware of what their children
do when they socialize. Basing
statistics a recent survey of local youth, the billboard message reads,
?One-fourth of
Bristol
high school students were drunk
last weekend. Was yours one of
them??
For
more information contact: Patricia
Checko, Director of Health, Bristol Health District and Chair, Bristol
Community Wellness Coalition (860) 584-7682 or [email protected]
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