Utilizing Social Host Accountability to Reduce Binge Drinking and related Community Consequences

Social Host Accountability is an innovate approach to addressing binge drinking at house parties and can be a key strategy for local communities to engage in an environmental strategy rather than relying on educational approaches to the problem - which have seldom produced results. The presenters will describe how to utilize sentinel events in the community (such as an out of control teen party or injury/death) to leverage support for policy versus educational approaches. the presenter will also describe the process utilized in Marin County to secure passage of social host at the County level as well as in eleven municipalities, making Marin County the first in California to have total coverage of this policy. This will include the use of focus groups, development of key messaging and media campaigns, processes for effectively engaging policymakers, law enforcement and the public, addressing opposing viewpoints and dealing with the media. Finally the presenters will review a study conducted by the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services and the Youth Leadership Institute utilizing youth researchers which identified the level of implementation of social host accountability following the passage of the policy. The presenters will address the use of youth development strategies, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, and sustainable processes for data collection. The presenters will also share findings from the study which detail key insights from police about increasing the effectiveness of enforcement of social host.