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Policy Update
Environmental
Change
What It Isn’t
This concept has nothing to do with hugging trees, recycling, or
not littering.
What
it is
The “environment” consists of those things in your neighborhood,
community, or state that influence how you live.
The
Basic Idea
If it hasn't already been brought to your attention, Indiana like
many states, needs to face the problem of underage drinking. If
you weren’t concerned about underage drinking, you probably
wouldn’t be reading this page. So what is environmental change
and how does it relate to this statewide problem?
Environmental change isn’t a new concept. Groups like Mother’s
Against Drunk Driving, (MADD) have been using the strategy for years.
That is how the legal drinking age was raised from 18 to 21. Mothers
and others were concerned with the number of young people who were
driving drunk, so they organized themselves across the nation and
became true advocates. They called, wrote, and visited their senators
and representatives in order to voice their concerns. They have
also educated the public about drunk driving and continued to encourage
others to get involved. They have changed the environment by challenging
the laws regarding the legal drinking age.
Traditional prevention efforts focus on the individual, and while
that is important, it is also important to look at the environment
that surrounds the individual. How accessible and available is alcohol?
What are the messages about alcohol that young people are getting?
What are the attitudes and beliefs about underage drinking?
All of these factors can be addressed through policy.
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These are some effective policies to reduce underage drinking:
- Alcohol
compliance checks
Compliance checks are an effective way to build community partnerships
and are effective tools for communities to monitor alcohol sales.
Click here for more information on compliance checks and Project
ACE.
- Keg
Tracking
The coalition was successful in getting SB 97 Keg Tracking passed
in the 2002 session. This law will require retailers and those
who purchase kegs to identify the keg purchased and verify that
the purchaser is at least 21. If a keg is ever found at an event
where underage drinkers are consuming, the keg can be traced back
to the purchaser. Click here for information on keg tracking.
- Increasing
the alcohol tax
Studies show that as alcohol prices increases, underage consumption
rates decrease. Indiana alcohol taxes have not been raised since
1981, resulting in a loss of revenue and increased health risks
for Hoosiers. We are lower than most of our neighboring states
in alcohol prices, and are significantly lower than the national
average. Click here for more information about Indiana alcohol
taxes.
- Mandatory
ID checks for alcohol purchases
There is no law in Indiana that requires clerks to check ID on
alcohol purchases. There should be a minimum carding age of at
least 27 (the age for checking ID for tobacco purchases).
- Restrictions
on or banning of home delivery of alcohol
In Indiana, a consumer can have alcohol delivered directly to
their home from most any retailer that sells alcohol. There is
no law that requires the person delivering the alcohol to verify
the age of the purchaser OR the recipient of the alcohol. If home
delivery of alcohol is not banned, then the deliverer of the alcohol
should be required to verify the age of the recipient of the alcohol
to ensure that they are at least 21.
- Stricter
penalties on adult providers
The current penalty for providing alcohol to a minor is a Class
C misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $500. Since the maximum
fine is rarely given, there should be a mandatory minimum fine
of at least $500, and the offense should be increased to at least
a Class B misdemeanor.
- Limitations
on or banning of alcohol sold and consumed in public places
like parks, beaches, fairs, etc.
- Limitations
on or banning of alcohol advertisements,
especially around places where children frequent (parks, schools,
churches, playgrounds, etc.)
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Please visit
these links for more information on effective policies to reduce
underage drinking:
If you are concerned
about youth access to alcohol and underage drinking and want to
talk to your legislators
about your concerns, please call:
- The Indiana
State Senate 800-382-9467
- The Indiana
House of Representatives 800-382-9842
- Or visit
their website at: www.state.in.us
The ABC’s
of advocacy
A
- ACT! If you don’t do
it, who will?
B - BE BOLD! Stand firm
on your issue, and let others know why it is important to you.
C - CREATE awareness
about your issue, and opportunities for discussion and communication.
D - DEVELOP relationships
with your representative, senator, and/or a legislator.
E
- ENCOURAGE a young person
to get involv ed, and give them suggestions and support on what
they can do.
F - FIND OUT what the
“other side” really thinks of your issue - meet with
them.
G - GET media attention
for your issue as much as possible.
H - HELP an organization
raise money.
I - IDENTIFY solutions
and steps needed to get there (and involve someone new at every
opportunity).
J - JOIN with others.
There is power in numbers!
K - KNOW the facts about
your issue and be prepared to educate others.
L - LEAVE simple, brief
materials with someone after you have talked with him or her about
your issue.
M - MEET with your representative,
senator, and other legislative staff. Educate them and keep them
informed!
N - NEVER GIVE UP!
O - ORGANIZE a meeting,
rally, phone calling, or letter writing campaign around your issue.
P - PHONE legislators,
friends, family, and others about your issue and encourage them
to take action.
Q - QUIETLY listen (without
interrupting or arguing) to the “other side” of an issue.
You will want them to do the same.
R - REQUEST specific
action. Know what you want to accomplish.
S - SHARE helpful information
and success stories with others who are also doing advocacy work
- you might learn something from them, too!
T - THANK your legislator,
friends, co-workers, volunteers, etc. for taking action and supporting
your issue.
U - USE your own style,
but always be courteous, factual, and professional.
V - VOTE!
W -WRITE your legislator,
the editor of newspapers and magazines, and others about your
issue.
X - XEROX information
on your issue and pass it out to help educate others.
Y - YELL for help! Don’t
try to do it all yourself - involve others and don’t burn
yourself out.
Z - ZERO in on the most
important points you want to make and stick to them!
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