Support for alcohol polices at local public health agencies and governing bodies

The field of public health has seen a strong push for evidence-based and best-practice interventions in regards to preventing underage drinking. Governing bodies of local public health agencies (LPHA) differ on what specific alcohol control policies they will support. It is up to managers and directors of local public health agencies to accurately and efficiently introduce policies that will help prevent underage drinking, but will also be accepted and supported by local governing bodies. In order to fully assess and understand the level of support of alcohol control policies targeting underage drinking, governing body members in the state of Minnesota were mailed surveys asking about support for specific control policies. In addition, managers and directors of LPHA were also mailed surveys to assess the current perception of the level of support from governing bodies for key alcohol policy measures. Results show that 80% of governing body members surveyed support increasing excise taxes to pay for youth alcohol prevention, and compliance checks, as well as civil fines for adults providing alcohol or hosting parties for youth. Directors and managers of LPHAs differ in their accuracy of estimating the level of support for several alcohol control policies, and in doing so, underestimate the level of support for key alcohol control policies. Findings from this study will help public health advocates understand the potential level of support for alcohol policies among LPHA leaders.