Description

Underage sales monitoring interventions have evidence for effectiveness in reducing underage alcohol access and use. They have typically targeted underage sales from bottle shops (packaged liquor vendors), but can be extended to also target sports facilities, and online sales. Community compliance checks involve a young person that appears to be under the legal age seeking to purchase alcohol from retailers. Where initial compliance checks show high rates of sales to young people, state authorities can be contacted to join compliance checks. Retailers that comply with current legislation by refusing to sell receive a letter advising of the monitoring program and its outcome. Retailers that fail to comply can receive a warning letter or penalty. In general, penalties are increased for second and subsequent offences. 

This strategy is supported through media stories and public information. In subsequent years, strategies may be expanded to discourage other community practices that increase the availability to minors including secondary supply (adults buying and providing alcohol to minors), and the promotion of child-friendly alcohol products such as the discounting of alcopops (premixed sweetened alcohol products).

Evaluation Evidence

Evidence shows that enforcement of liquor laws can increase compliance with minimum age laws. A US intervention to increase retailer compliance with underage sales laws used a strategy of compliance checks coupled with media advocacy to deter retailers from selling alcohol to minors (Scribner & Cohen, 2001). The evaluation found substantial gains in compliance (51%) among retailers who were issued with citations for failing compliance checks, as well as gains in compliance for those who had not been cited (35%).

Monitoring Recommendations

Communities That Care Ltd can provide a manual and training to assist communities develop a local implementation strategy. Developing the local educational materials for these programs can offer opportunities for youth involvement. To evaluate effects, Communities That Care Boards can repeat purchase attempts with youth who look underage.

Contact 

For advice on organising a training workshop:

Dr Bosco Rowland

CEO, Communities That Care Ltd

 bosco.rowland@monash.edu.au