Oral

This session will discuss local alcohol policy updates on laws to restrict alcohol access. Over the past several decades, considerable effort has been made to reduce alcohol sales to underage persons but less attention has been given to the issue of sales to obviously intoxicated patrons. Service and sales practices at alcohol retail establishments, particularly practices relating to service of intoxicated persons, play a key role in addressing the risk of injury and other harms that arise from excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol sales to intoxicated patrons are illegal and may lead to public health issues such as traffic crashes and violence. A research gap identified by The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recognizes that most research in alcohol consumption behaviors in adults aged 18 and over shows the impact of an increase in alcohol outlet density, but little research explores the impact of a reduction in density on harms, especially with temporal changes. Congress also enacted the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (the STOP Act) in 2006. It requires the Federal Government to conduct an annual report on, among other topics, underage-drinking-prevention policies, enforcement practices, and programs in the 50 States and the District of Columbia.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe trends in laws restricting sales to intoxicated persons (SIP). 2. Describe perception and enforcement of SIP laws. 3. Describe outlet density and it's relation to crime. 4. Explain use of GIS systems to assess spatial & temporal patterns in researching alcohol-related crimes. 5. Describe and discuss the 2011 survey results to assess the STOP Act.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)