QUICK FACTS FROM AEP RESEARCH

Alcohol Sales to Intoxicated Patrons

Are people who are obviously intoxicated able to buy alcohol despite laws prohibiting these sales?

Trained actors attempted to buy alcohol while acting obviously intoxicated at 372 off-premise (liquor stores, convenience stores, grocery stores) and on-premise (bars, restaurants) alcohol establishments: (1)

• 79% of the establishments sold alcohol to the buyers.

• Sales were almost 2 times more likely at off-premise establishments than on-premise establishments.

• Servers who appeared to be under age 31 were almost 3 times more likely than those who appeared to be 31or older to sell alcohol to the buyers.

In a smaller study, trained actors attempted to buy alcohol at several bars while acting obviously intoxicated: (2)

• Alcohol was served in 68% (43 of 63) of the first attempts.
• Alcohol was served in 53% (23 of 43) of second attempts.
• In all but three attempts, the server gave no indication whether he or she recognized the buyer's apparent intoxication level.

Trained actors attempted to buy alcohol while acting obviously intoxicated at 50 community festivals: (3)

• Buyers were able to purchase beer in 89% of 95 attempts.
• All festival planners reported having at least two of the 10 alcohol policies assessed in the study but no festival had implemented all 10.

For more information order publication number:

(1)11.6.140
Toomey TL, Wagenaar AC, Erickson DJ, Fletcher LA, Patrek W, Lenk KM. Illegal alcohol sales to obviously intoxicated patrons at licensed establishments. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research 2004 May; 28(5):769-774.

(2)11.6.117.
Toomey TL, Wagenaar AC, Kilian G, Fitch O, Rothstein C, Fletcher L. Alcohol sales to pseudo-intoxicated bar patrons. Public Health Reports 1999; 114(4):337-42.

(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.