NCJ Number
187414
Date Published
1999
Length
77 pages
Annotation
This guide provides information on one important tool for combating underage drinking: the alcohol purchase survey.
Abstract
The alcohol purchase survey involves sending minors or young-looking adults into stores to purchase alcohol, so that law enforcement agencies and community members can determine who is selling alcoholic beverages to youth. Before illegal alcoholic-beverage sales to minors can be prevented, communities must have valid information on the nature and extent of the problem. Alcohol purchase surveys provide information on who is selling alcoholic beverages to minors and how often. The findings of these surveys can raise community awareness of the problem and build support for reducing sales to minors; inform merchants that they are being monitored by the community; aid law enforcement; and help monitor the impact of prevention strategies. A chapter on planning alcohol purchase surveys discusses who should conduct the survey, the kinds of alcohol outlets that should be surveyed, whether minors should be used as buyers, whether the survey should include enforcement or be conducted for data collection only, and whether letters of information should be sent. Another chapter discusses the practical aspects of conducting the survey. Among the topics discussed in this chapter are buyer characteristics, recruitment of buyers, validating youthful appearance, escorts, training, preparations, and money for purchases. The concluding chapter discusses the sampling of alcohol outlets for an alcohol purchase survey. 10 annotated research studies, 12 annotated resource listings, 8 references, and appended sample survey and related forms