Recommendations
The recommendations of the Policy Panel, as published in its report Alcohol
and Youth, included the following:
- The San Diego County
Board of Supervisors and the 18 municipalities in San Diego County should
ban public drinking at all parks and beaches in the county.
- The California
Legislature should assure that the San Diego County district offices
of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department are staffed with
investigators in sufficient numbers to provide more effective enforcement
of laws and regulations governing the 5,000 licensed alcohol outlets
in the county.
- Penalties for violation
of laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors should be
more commensurate with those prescribed for sale of illegal drugs.
- State and local
agencies should conduct a more aggressive public information campaign
to assure that drivers under 21, parents, law enforcement officers and
others in contact with youth are familiar with the new law providing
for suspension of the driver's license of young people who drive with
a blood alcohol content of .01 or more.
- State and Federal
governments should adopt alcohol tax policies that reflect the social
and economic costs of alcohol use and recognize that the rate of alcohol
consumption by young people is sensitive to price.
- Bars and restaurants
with alcoholic beverage licenses should be given three years to establish
a voluntary program assuring that all servers of alcoholic beverage
receive responsible beverage service training. If such a program is
not in place within three years, the County Board of Supervisors should
mandate a training program.
- Government authorities
should join community organizations in pressuring the alcoholic beverage
industry to refrain from using themes and images in advertising which
appeal to youth.
- Retailers should
accept greater responsibility to avoid business practices which blur
the distinction between alcoholic beverages and other merchandise.
- Public and private
agencies staging sports, recreation and entertainment events should
be discouraged from accepting financial support and sponsorship from
alcoholic beverage companies.
- Outdoor advertisers
should stop targeting neighborhoods frequented by youth with a concentration
of billboards and signage advertising alcoholic beverages.
- Local government
bodies and private agencies should work with school districts to develop
more safe, supervised activities for young people during non-school
hours.
- School districts
should be required to adopt a firm and credible policy to deal with
the use of alcohol and other drugs by students.
- University and
college regents and trustees should forbid the acceptance of alcoholic
beverage advertising in college-supported publications.
- Minimum training
and continuing education standards for all licensed professionals and
paraprofessionals working with youth should mandate comprehension of
symptoms, treatment and prevention of alcohol and other drug abuse.
|