The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40135

Debra H Bernat, MA¹, Eileen Harwood, PhD², Traci L. Toomey, PhD², and Alex Wagenaar, PhD². (1) Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Suite 300, 1300 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414, 612-626-7473, dbernat@umn.edu, (2) Alcohol Epidemiology Program, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd St. Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015

Adolescent alcohol use is associated with numerous social and public health problems, including crime, homicides, suicide, traffic crashes, and unintentional injuries. Public policies regulating the sale and distribution of alcohol are among the most promising interventions to reduce alcohol-related problems. While public awareness and concern for an issue can increase legislative activity, little is known about the potential effects of alcohol coalitions on public support for alcohol policies. These data were collected as part of an evaluation of statewide coalitions funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to reduce alcohol consumption and related problems among youth through increasing public awareness and developing alcohol policies. A random sample of adults across the U.S. was surveyed (n=7,021) at baseline in 1997 for their support on 23 policies to reduce youth access to alcohol (e.g., access restrictions, regulation of seller/server behavior, enforcement and penalties, restrictions on alcohol advertising, and server liability). A follow-up survey was conducted in 2001 (n=5,739), repeating the same questions to a second random sample. During this session we will present changes in support for alcohol control policies between 1997 and 2001 and in levels of support for states with statewide coalitions compared to states without coalitions. Following this session, participants will be able to discuss trends in public support for alcohol policies across the country as well as in states that have received funding to change state-level alcohol policies.

Learning Objectives:

• Following this session, participants will be able to discuss trends in public support for alcohol policies across the country as well as in states that have received funding to change state-level alcohol policies.

Keywords: Alcohol,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.