With
support from the OJJDP Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Initiative,
community organizations, enforcement agencies, youth, and other concerned
citizens are working collaboratively to reduce underage drinking and youth
access to alcohol.
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Community Volunteers in Missouri Champion New Alcohol-Related Ordinances at the Local Level
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Volunteers in Missouri are
working passionately and diligently to pass local ordinances to reduce
youth access to alcohol. During
the past year, there are many successes to report.
One
of the most celebrated victories was in the City of Smithville, MO, a
“bedroom” community of Kansas City.
To date, Smithville has the distinction of being the only Missouri
community to implement a local keg registration ordinance.
This keg registration law requires retailers to attach a locking,
numbered plastic tag to each keg. When
a keg is purchased, the retailer records the buyer’s name, address,
phone number, and other identifying information on a form; this form also
lists the number from the keg’s tag.
If enforcement officers confiscate the keg at an underage drinking
party, they can easily trace the purchaser who supplied the alcohol to the
underage youth and impose the appropriate sanctions.
Smithville Police
Department Chief Paul Vescovo applauds the work of local alcohol policy
advocates, including youth volunteers from Youth With Vision and MO’s
Youth/Adult Alliance Against Underage Drinking.
“I’m proud that our city has set a precedent and has done its
part in holding adult providers of alcohol responsible for their
actions,” Chief Vescovo said.
Other
community policy actions include the passage of open house parties
ordinances in the Cities of Kearney, Liberty, Platte City, and Richmond.
These local laws hold adults who are responsible for the property
liable if minors are found possessing and/or consuming alcohol on the
premises. Penalties include
fines and possible jail time. Additionally,
Maryville and other localities passed open container ordinances.
Maryville is also examining the City’s current code that allows
underage youth into bars as long as they do not drink.
“Local
ordinances send a very strong message about a community’s acceptable
norms,” says Vicky Ward, prevention specialist for Tri-County Mental
Health Services in Kansas City. Teamed
with effective enforcement strategies and community support, local-level
policy changes can strengthen efforts to reduce underage drinking and
youth access to alcohol.
For
more information, contact
Tempe Humphrey, OJJDP State Coordinator, at 1-800-800-2358 or [email protected]