Engaging youth in alcohol policy: The Lee Law Project

  • James F. Mosher Alcohol Policy Consultations
  • Maia E. D’Andrea Alcohol Policy Consultations
Keywords: Alcohol advertising, policy implementation, youth development, alcohol policy

Abstract

Mosher, J., & D’Andrea, M. (2015). Engaging youth in alcohol policy: The Lee Law Project. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 4(2), 113-118. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v4i2.206

Aims: (1) Conduct a pilot project to test the effectiveness of a youth development “toolkit” designed to reduce youth exposure to
signage on liquor store windows; (2) Highlight the disparity in violation rates of a state law limiting window signage on liquor
store windows between low income communities of color and higher income, predominantly Anglo communities.

Design: Pilot project/case study. Participating young people, working with adult coaches, photographed liquor store windows in
three communities and determined level of compliance with state law limiting liquor store window signage to 33 percent of total
window area and requiring clear view of cash register area in the store.

Setting: Three communities in Santa Cruz County, California, with diverse income and racial/ethnic compositions.

Participants: 71 liquor stores.

Measures: Compliance rates of participating liquor stores with state law limiting the amount and placement of window signage.

Findings: Low income, predominantly Latino community had significantly lower compliance rates than two nearby higher
income, Anglo communities. Youth participants successfully engaged community organizations and policy makers in advocating
for voluntary compliance.

Conclusions: The toolkit provides a promising model for engaging youth in alcohol policy reform and reducing youth exposure
to liquor store signage.

Author Biographies

James F. Mosher, Alcohol Policy Consultations
Alcohol Policy Consultations, Felton, CA
Maia E. D’Andrea, Alcohol Policy Consultations
Alcohol Policy Consultations, Felton, CA
Published
2015-12-18
How to Cite
Mosher, J. F., & D’Andrea, M. E. (2015). Engaging youth in alcohol policy: The Lee Law Project. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, 4(2), 113-118. https://doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v4i2.206
Section
Papers