Wisconsin Parents Who HostWisconsin Parents Who HostPartnershipPartnership

4 A’s to Preventing Underage Drinking

1. Make Alcohol Less Available.

2. Make Alcohol Less Attractive.

3. Make Alcohol Less Affordable.

4. Make Alcohol Misuse Less Acceptable.

A majority 53.4% of current alcohol users aged 12 to 20 drank at someone else’s home the last time they used alcohol, and another 30.3 % drank in their own home.

The NSDUH Report, August 28, 2008

Ohio Roots

1998 State Task Force completed needs assessment

Determined most underage drinking strategies are focused on youth and youth behavior

Identified teen house parties as a challenge to enforcement officers and communities

Some teens get alcohol from friend’s parents Used federal money for alcohol age

compliance checks, started 2000

Wisconsin's Parents Who Host Partners Department of Children & Families

Department of Health Services

Department of Public Instruction

Department of Transportation

WATODEN

Alliance for Wisconsin Youth

Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources

The Wisconsin Difference

Less than 10 states have local alcohol control.

Wisconsin does not have a statewide police force.

Wisconsin’s liability law begins by assuming no liability exists for serving alcohol.

Community Coalition & Law Enforcement

Provide: Broad based community support Implementation of public information campaign Media advocacy effort

Community support for alcohol age compliance checks or party patrols

Receives: Materials Overtime reimbursement for police/sheriff

Training & web based support for coalition & police Radio advertising (for the public information campaign)

3 Required Elements

1. Public Information Campaign

2. Media Advocacy

3. Alcohol Age Compliance Checks

and/or Party Patrols

Optional : Parent Network

Public Information CampaignGetting the Information Out to Adults

• Information packets• Local publications, newspapers,

newsletters, church bulletins *• Letters to the editor and Op-Eds. *• Mayoral proclamations *• Poster & Static Cling campaigns in

libraries, recreation centers, stores, medical facilities. *

• Radio interviews, especially call-ins• Presentations to local groups. *

Put Your Message EverywhereUse the information card as a:

• Payroll or utility bill stuffer

• On top of pizza boxes

• Grocery Bag stuffer

• School programs

• Church bulletins

• Library bookmarks

CAUTION!

Specific violations, fines and forfeitures may vary by community.

Do you know that another community’s ordinances match yours before using their materials?

125.07 (4)(b) In this paragraph, “violation” means a violation of this subsection or of a local ordinance that strictly conforms to par. (a) if the violation results in an imposition of a forfeiture or a conviction.

125.07 (2) No licensee or permittee may sell, vend, deal or traffic in alcohol beverages to or with any underage person not accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or spouse who has attained the legal drinking age.

125.07 (3). No adult may knowingly permit or fail to take action to prevent the illegal consumption of alcohol beverages by an underage person on premises owned by the adult or under the adult’s control. This subdivision does not apply to alcohol beverages used exclusively as part of a religious service.

What is media advocacy?

• Media advocacy is strategic involvement with the media to accomplish your goal.

• It is about change - not awareness or information.

• Media advocacy works when you

know what you want to happen.

Once you “get” media advocacy, you have to do it. Or live with the fact that you’re not doing everything you can to make a difference.

Makani Themba-Nixon in News for a Change: An Advocate’s Guide to

Working With the Media (1999)

“If you don’t exist in the media, for all practical purposes, you don’t exist” Daniel Schorr, commentator, National Public Radio

Successful media advocacy requires:

1. A knowledgeable, energetic spokesperson

2. Ability to respond quickly to opportunities & events that may advance your goal.

3. Money, optional.

1. What is the problem you are highlighting? Adults who illegally purchase, provide or pour alcohol for youth other than their own children.

2. Is there a solution to it? If so, what is it? Adults who understand and respect the law will not allow illegal underage drinking in their home. Those who violate the law should expect legal consequences. Adults expect family and friends to respect the law and not provide alcohol to youth.

Media Advocacy Answers 3 Questions:

3. Who can make the solution possible? Our community and no one else. When people believe that purchasing, pouring or providing alcohol for underage youth is both illegal and unacceptable, that it will not be tolerated and will be reported to authorities, the problem will be controllable.

Law Enforcement’s Role1.Serving alcohol to any

underage individual except your child is illegal.

2.Alcohol consumption by youth presents an immediate hazard to both the child and community.

3. The goal is to deter the intentional purchasing, pouring or providing alcohol for youth.

Comprehensive Alcohol ReDuction Program Wisconsin's Alcohol Age Compliance Check Program

1. Funds must go to law enforcement agencies

2. Grants reimburse for officer OT & equipment

3.Established protocol must be used.

4. Multiple and overlapping jurisdictions may enter into memorandums of understanding

5. CARD project team of 2 officers, 2 youth & 2 adults may be part of the coalition

6. Coalition may help recruit youth decoys, assist in administrative detail & show support for the effort.

WINS & CARD

WINS1. Goals: Reduce youth

access to tobacco

2. State Compliance Program. Preparation for annual Synar check which impacts federal

funding.

3. Tobacco use presents a serious long term health

risk to youth.

CARD1. Goal: Reduce youth

access to alcohol.

2. Law enforcement program.

3. Underage alcohol use presents a clear and immediate danger to

the youth, their health & the community.

Parent Network1. Optional activity – parents pledge card

included.

2. Provides peer and community support for alcohol free parties.

3. Ohio collects names and uses for “endorsement”

4. Could create “safe” home list for events.

Steps to Effectiveness

1. Pull together your community team including law enforcement, community leaders, parents and others.

2. Complete the community application for Parents Who Host Lose the Most materials.

3. Assist your local Police or Sheriff in applying for CARD funds for alcohol age compliance checks.

4. Make a plan for action (suggestions follow)

August/September/October1. Outreach and training sessions2. WCH receives applications prescreens, then forwards them to Regional Centers for decision.3. CARD applications filed, new CARD grantees assigned mentor.4. Build coalition, bring in business, community & faith partners for cling, sticker & information campaigns5. Negotiate bill/bag stuffer projects6. Coordinate with high school event planners

November/December/January1.Materials delivered

2. Plan public information campaign

3. Schedule & make community Presentations about holiday alcohol use

4. Reserve/negotiate ad space

5. Outreach to media, press release & interviews about holiday alcohol use

6. Prepare for alcohol age compliance checks

February/March/April Alcohol Awareness Month1. Mid-month radio advertising begins2. Community presentations to: school board, licensing body common council3. First round age compliance checks4. Issue mayoral proclamation5. Static cling campaign6. Sticker campaigns7. Posters in businesses, schools, recreation centers8. Media advocacy overload!

May1. Release results from

compliance checks.

2. Refresh clings

3. Media advocacy –

every graduation story includes parental hosting issues

4. Media advocacy – letters to editors

June1. Collect media samples

2. Send thanks to project supporters

& sponsors

3.Thanks ad or letter in local papers

4. Interview in papers on changing

beliefs- possibly with police.

Application & Materials Request

Free materials are available from Wisconsin Clearinghouse for PreventionThis project requires coalition and local police or sheriff departments to undertake each of the three following activities; submission of this application indicates that all three activities are planned:

Parents Who Host Lose the Most: Don’t be a Party to Underage Drinking public information campaign.Media advocacy and outreach. Alcohol age compliance checks and/or Party Patrols conducted by local law enforcement or another law enforcement agency by contract or agreement. Note: Federal funding to cover office overtime is available through the Comprehensive Alcohol ReDuction program of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

□ I affirm that all three of the activities listed above will be implemented as part of the campaign.Signature___________________________________ Print name__________________________________Contact Connie Abert, Waupaca County UW-Extension, 715-258-6230, connie.abert@ces.uwex.edu

Visit the website:

http://sites.google.com/site/parentswhohostawi/ Remember: Parents Who Host Lose Most

UWEX Website at:

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/waupaca/pwhlm.html

Contact Connie Abert, Waupaca County UW-Extensionconnie.abert@ces.uwex.edu