Analysis of the Effectiveness of Underage Prohibition in Alcoholic Beverage

Establishments

Requested by: Lt. Bruce GilesPrepared By: Ericka Jackson,

Crime Analyst, ID 5903

Underage Prohibition in Alcoholic Beverage Establishments

• City Ordinance No. 070941• Enacted February 5, 2009• Purpose: Prohibits an alcoholic beverage

establishment (defined in ordinance) from admitting patrons under the age of 21 into such establishments during specified times.

• Prohibited Times: 9:00pm to 2:00am

An Underage Drinking Incident

• Any physical arrest or notice to appear (NTA) issued for possession or consumption of an alcoholic beverage by a person under the legal drinking age (21 years); which results in an adjudication of guilt, finding of guilt with adjudication withheld, waiver of right to contest the violation, plea of no contest including but not limited to, payment of fine or civil penalty, or entering into an agreement for deferred prosecution.

Ordinance Enforcement History

• The ordinance was enacted in February 2009• Active with enforcement: 2009 – 2012– Documented record of last executed agreement

was dated: 11/29/2012 at Oh! Oh! Garden Grill - 1643 NW 1st Ave

– Undetermined number of times the ordinance was actually enforced… probably less than 5 times.

– Stopped enforcing ordinance approx. June 2013• Active with no enforcement: 2013 - 2014

Source: City Of Gainesville / GPD Legal Advisor Lee Libby

Arrest Code: 562-11*

• This dataset was derived from the Gainesville Police Department’s Pistol RMS “Arrest Module”

• Includes both Physical Arrests and NTAs• 3 Arrest Codes Included: Underage Alcohol Related– 562-11/1: Alcohol Beverage-Sell/Give/Serve To Person

Under 21– 562-11/2: Misrepresent Age to Obtain Alcohol– 562-111: Alcohol Beverage-Possession by Person Under

21

* 2015 is only YTD thru November. All other stats represent a full calendar year.

During: 1,747

Before: 4,011

After: 966

* 2015 is only YTD thru November. All other stats represent a full calendar year.

Top 10 Violating (Arrest) Locations2005 - 2015

Address Business Arrests104 S MAIN ST Rue Bar 4381728 W UNIVERSITY AVE Gator City 384105 SW 3RD ST City Parking Garage 3301718 W UNIVERSITY AVE Grog House 3091642 W UNIVERSITY AVE The Swamp 3131632 W UNIVERSITY AVE Cantina 101 23310 S MAIN ST The Rehab/Whiskey Room 224233 W UNIVERSITY AVE Florida Theatre / The Venue 2051702 W UNIVERSITY AVE Fat Daddy’s / Rowdy Reptile 196108 S MAIN ST Jewell’s Bar / Club 159

In Summary• During the four years the ordinance was implemented and

enforced, there was a -43.55% reduction (2,264 less arrests) as compared to the four years prior.

• Although the ordinance has not been enforced since 2012, a reduction in underage alcohol related arrests continued in 2013 and 2014. It’s existence alone served as a deterrent.

• YTD November 2015, there have been 456 arrests. This indicates since knowledge of lack of enforcement, arrests are already beginning to increase.

• Was this increase a result of a possible increase in the number of establishments within the city? No, in 2014 and 2015, there were 41 recorded addresses/locations where arrests were made. So the increase from 2014 to 2015 was a valid increase in the number of alcohol related arrests.