Underage
Drinking: Success Stories
Georgia
– August 21, 2003
of Problem
Strategies
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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.
Compliance Increases with Collaborations between Community and Law Enforcement
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An ?extremely high rate of noncompliance among alcohol-licensed
establishments? was how one community leader described Georgia?s problem
of illegal sales of alcohol to minors.
Georgia?s Department of Revenue ? Alcohol & Tobacco Division (DOR-ATD) was
quick to respond to this problem. In the fall of 1997, along with
coalition members and staff from the Georgia Alcohol Policy Partnership (GAPP),
a plan for conducting statewide compliance investigations in Georgia was
created. GAPP agreed to conduct statewide public awareness efforts and
assist with the recruitment and training of youth enforcement teams.
Georgia DOR-ATD agents agreed to systematically increase compliance
investigations over time and to develop an initial framework for what is
now the UNDERAGE ALCOHOL INVESTIGATIVE & COMPLIANCE OPERATIONS GROUP.
Initially, approximately 500 compliance checks were conducted. Of the
alcohol-licensed establishments investigated, more than half were not
complying with State and local laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to
minors.
Over the past 3 years, the number and frequency of the operations have
increased, as have the more locally coordinated investigations. This has
resulted in more than 6 thousand investigations by State and local law
enforcement and a reduction in illegal sales by almost 50 percent.
Currently, the rate of compliance among alcohol-licensed establishments in
Georgia is close to 80 percent!
Strong support exists for Georgia?s law enforcement efforts to reduce
illegal sales of alcohol to minors.
Law enforcement, community leaders, and youth all play a significant role
in Georgia?s successful efforts. Youth participate in compliance checks,
lead advocacy efforts, and conduct media and education campaigns designed
to inform key lawmakers about the problems of underage drinking and youth
access to alcohol.
Community leaders, Georgia PTA, MADD Georgia, Family Connection of
Georgia, and coordinators of local efforts to reduce underage drinking
provide critical influence by encouraging local and State organizations to
support alcohol policy and enforcement strategies that reduce youth access
to alcohol.
For more information, contact Clarise Jackson-Hall ? Children &
Youth Coordinating Council @ (404)508-6574; Ronald Johnson ? GA Dept of
Revenue ? Alcohol & Tobacco Division @ (404) 656-4252; Joel Hardy ? GA
Alcohol Policy Partnership @ (770)239-7442; or Cathy Finck ? Cobb Underage
Drinking Task Force @ (770)640-8862.
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