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.
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As a result of a collaborative effort, Cobb County government officials amended their local ordinance in July 2001, mandating licensee participation in Responsible Alcohol Sales & Service Workshops as part of their alcohol license application process. Government officials in the cities of Kennesaw and Powder Springs approved similar changes to their alcohol ordinances in October 2002.
Bringing a variety of organizations together to collaborate and find ways for a community to share in the responsibility for enforcing underage drinking laws has payoffs for everyone. Concerned parent and youth groups, numerous public and private agencies, responsible alcohol retailers, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and government all benefit through partnership in the Cobb Underage Drinking Task Force.
The merchant education subcommittee of the task force convened representatives from business license offices, law enforcement, public health, merchants, and staff training providers to research, develop, and test a Policy Workshop for Alcohol Licensees that would provide benefits to everyone involved. Interest in this particular local policy change grew after Responsible Alcohol Sale and Service [RASS] Policy Workshops were conducted with 78 local alcohol licensees.
Workshop participants learned about their legal obligations and liabilities. They also learned how to reduce their businesses’ risk and liability by developing a comprehensive alcohol compliance program with three important components;
1) written policies, 2) effective staff training, and 3) monitoring or supervision of employees. The workshop helped them establish, teach, and maintain high standards for responsible retail alcohol sales.
This initial group of workshop participants became strong supporters as they realized the benefits of reduced risk and liability upon implementing recommended business best practices. However, gaining voluntary business participation beyond the initial workshop group of 78 challenged the committee.
The committee prepared a presentation and met with area elected officials to solicit their help in instituting mandatory RASS Policy Workshop policies/ordinances for local alcohol licensees. Information about current local business compliance rates, testimony from law enforcement and responsible retailers, and proof of significant community support for the recommendation, contributed to these policy successes.
Ultimately, this policy change was an easy one as it included benefits for all and helped share the responsibility for enforcing underage drinking laws. Almost 600 people have attended a workshop. Overall taskforce efforts have increased business compliance rates by 45 percent.
For more information, contact Cathy Finck, Community Coordinator- Cobb Underage Drinking Taskforce @ 404-223-9812; Michele Stumpe, Attorney – Evindi, Inc. @ 770-988-9970; or Joel Hardy, Project Director – GA Alcohol Policy Partnership @ (770)239-7442.