A survey of over 6000 teenagers revealed (1):

• Teenagers usually get their alcohol from persons 21 or older. The second most common source for high school students is someone else under age 21, and the second most common source for 18- to 20-year-olds is buying it from a store, bar or restaurant (despite the fact that such sales are against the law).
• In the 12th grade, boys were more likely than girls to buy alcohol from a store, bar or restaurant.
• The higher a teenager's weekly income, the more likely he/she will buy alcohol from a store, bar or restaurant.
• It is easy to get alcohol at a party and from siblings or others 21 or older.

Focus groups with teenagers revealed:

• At large high school parties, beer is often available from kegs at low or no-cost (2).
• Convenience stores are the easiest places to buy alcohol (2).
• Male store clerks and those who are younger are more likely to sell alcohol to teenagers (2).
• It seems less risky to ask an older adult to purchase alcohol than to attempt to buy alcohol directly (3).
• Most believed they would not face serious legal consequences for drinking (3).
  

For more information order publication numbers:

(1) 11.6.79
Wagenaar AC, Toomey TL, Murray DM, Short BJ, Wolfson M, Jones-Webb R. Sources of alcohol for underage drinkers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 1996;57(3):325-333.

(2) 11.6.59
Wagenaar AC, Finnegan JR, Wolfson M, Anstine PS, Williams CL, Perry CL. Where and how adolescents obtain alcoholic beverages. Public Health Reports 1993;108(4):459-364.

(3) 11.6.89
Jones-Webb R, Toomey TL, Miner K, Wagenaar AC, Wolfson M, Poon R. Why and in what context adolescents obtain alcohol from older adults: A pilot study. Substance Use and Misuse 1997;32(2):219-228.

How easy is it for youth to buy alcohol?

Young females attempted to buy beer without an ID at liquor, grocery or convenience stores:

•  In 47-52% of the attempts, beer was sold. (1, 2)

•  Nearly 80% of all the stores sold beer to the buyers at least once in three attempts; nearly 25% sold beer all three times. (1)

When young females attempted to buy beer without an ID at bars or restaurants, 5 0% of the attempts resulted in a sale to the buyer. (2)

When young males and females attempted to buy beer without an ID at community festivals , 5 0% of the attempts resulted in a sale to the buyer. (3)

For more information order publication numbers:

(1) 11.6.72
Forster JL, McGovern PG, Wagenaar AC, Wolfson M, Perry CL, Anstine PS. The ability of young people to purchase alcohol without age identification in northeastern Minnesota, USA. Addiction 1994;89: 699-705.

(2) 11.6.78
Forster JL, Murray DM, Wolfson M, Wagenaar AC. Commercial availability of alcohol to young people results: results of alcohol purchase attempts. Preventive Medicine 1993;24:342-347.

(3) 11.6.151
Toomey TL, Erickson DJ, Patrek W, Fletcher LA, Wagenaar AC. Illegal alcohol sales and use of alcohol control policies at community festivals. Public Health Reports 2005; 120(2):165-173.

• Bars and restaurants that have a larger proportion of their revenues from alcohol sales (1).
• Liquor stores, when compared to bars (2).
• Grocery/convenience stores, when compared to liquor stores (1).
• Those not belonging to a chain or a business association (1).
• Establishments in malls (3).

For more information order publication numbers:

(1) 11.6.83
Wolfson M, Toomey TL, Murray DM, Forster JL, Short BJ, Wagenaar AC. Alcohol outlet policies and practices concerning sales to underage people. Addiction 1996 Apr;(4):589-602.

(2) 11.6.85
Wolfson M, Toomey TL, Forster JL, Wagenaar AC, McGovern PG, Perry CL. Characteristics, policies, and practices of alcohol outlets and sales to youth. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 1996;57(6):670-674.

(3) 11.6.78
Forster JL, Murray DM, Wolfson M, Wagenaar AC. Commercial availability of alcohol to young people results: results of alcohol purchase attempts. Preventive Medicine 1993;24:342-347.

Young females were more likely to be able to buy beer at liquor, grocery or convenience stores if:

• The clerk appeared to be between 21 and 30 years old. (1)
• The clerk was male. (1)
• It was after 3 p.m. (2)
• Signs warning against sales to minors were located at the checkouts. (1)

Young females were more likely to be able to buy beer at bars or restaurants if (1):

• The server appeared to be between 21 and 30 years old
• The server was female
• The business was a restaurant as opposed to a bar only
• Signs warning against sales to minors were located at the register

For more information order publication numbers:

(1) 11.6.78
Forster JL, Murray DM, Wolfson M, Wagenaar AC. Commercial availability of alcohol to young people: Results of alcohol purchase attempts. Preventive Medicine 1995; 24:342-347.

(2)11.6.72
Forster JL, McGovern PG, Wagenaar AC, Wolfson M, Perry CL, Anstine PS. The ability of young people to purchase alcohol without age identification in northeastern Minnesota, USA. Addiction 1994; 89: 699-705.

Can young people get alcohol delivered to their home?

Across 15 Midwestern towns in 1992:

• 20% of grocery stores and liquor stores reported that they deliver alcoholic beverages to homes.
• 10% of high school seniors said they purchased alcoholic beverages that were delivered by a store to his/her home.
• 12th graders were more likely than 18- to 20-year-olds to purchase alcoholic beverages that were delivered to home.

For more information order publication number:

11.6.107
Fletcher LA, Toomey TL, Wagenaar AC, Short B, Willenbring ML. Alcohol home delivery services: A source of alcohol for underage drinkers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 2000 Jan;61(1):81-84.

In a review of 132 studies (241 separate analyses) from 1960-1999 on effects of the MLDA, 56% of the analyses were found to be of high quality.

Among the high-quality analyses:

•  33 examined how the MLDA affects alcohol consumption; of these:

•  33% found that a higher MLDA was associated with reduced consumption

•  3% found the opposite.

•  79 examined how the MLDA affects traffic crashes; of these:

•  58% found that a higher MLDA was associated with decreased traffic crashes.

•  0 found the opposite.

•  23 examined how the MLDA affects other problems (e.g., social, academic, employment); of these:

•  35% found a higher MLDA was associated with reduced problems.

•  0 found the opposite.

For more information order publication number:

11.6.128
Wagenaar AC, Toomey TL. Effects of minimum drinking age laws: Review and analyses of the literature from 1960 to 2000. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 2002 Mar; Suppl 14:206-225.

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