Town Hall meetings generate substantial publicity
Pub Date: 5/1/2006
If generating publicity on the problems surrounding under-age drinking was just one goal, the campaign to organize a reported 1,200 Town Hall meetings that took place across the country in late March would have to be regarded as an overwhelming success.
Television screens and newspapers were plastered with news of the events, usually couched in grim statistics giving perspective to the extent of the problem. It is clear: those under 21 do find ways to access alcohol, often consuming it to excess, then paying a high price when the law intervenes or when other dreadful consequences occur.
Even though youth drinking is declining along with youth drunk driving and accidents, most concurred that the problem remains critical and worthwhile strategies to address it deserve serious consideration.
Harry Wiles, the executive director of the American Beverage Licensees (ABL), the national association of alcohol beverage retailers, said, "Retailers continue their 100 percent opposition to underage drinking. Nearly all of ABL's affiliate members employ server training programs that have been approved by their states to educate and instruct their servers and sales associates on how to prevent underage sales.
"ABL members are also committed to working with their communities to help prevent underage drinking," he said. "We will continue to work with industry groups and third parties to find workable and effective solutions to this problem."
ABL President Kevin O'Laughlin said, "As the licensed retailers of alcohol, our members have been on the front lines in this battle of underage drinking and access to alcohol.
"Recent studies have concluded that less than 10 percent of juveniles who obtain alcohol do so directly from retailers," O'Laughlin continued. "This has been accomplished through ID enforcement programs and server education. Retailers have taken this issue seriously and the studies show that we have been very effective.
"Education and enforcement must continue, especially to address the overwhelming source of juveniles access to alcohol family and friends. These sources need to understand that they are breaking the law when they provide to minors.
"The social norm issues, that 't his is a right of passage' and 'we all did it' must continually be addressed. The of-age adults who are choosing to
provide must be the target of education campaigns.
"The retailers of alcohol stand ready, and will continue, to do our part in battling the problem of underage drinking and access to alcohol," he concluded.
The Federal interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking spearheaded the Town Hall event that was said to have spawned community meetings in 1,200 towns across all 50 states. It was hoped the events will be the impetus for heightened local awareness and action. The theme was "Start talking before they start drinking."
But other themes also seemed to emerge from the meetings: limit marketing and promotion, raise taxes and reduce access.
Some talked about the need for recreation alternatives for youth, tougher law enforcement and the benefits of spiritual development and family dinners.
Some of the meetings saw disappointing turnouts of a dozen or so citizens while others were said to have attracted over 200.