QUICK FACTS FROM AEP RESEARCH

Public Opinion

Do adults in the U.S. support laws that regulate the sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages?

• In general, most adults are in favor of such laws (1)
• Over 80% of adults support:
  • banning or restricting consumption of alcohol in public places, such as in the street or on college campuses
  • Bans on the home delivery of alcohol
  • Requiring people who serve or sell alcohol to be trained in responsible server/selling practices
  • Increasing alcohol taxes if the funds collected are used for alcohol treatment/prevention programs.
• Approximately 40% of adults support: (1)
  • State-ownership of liquor stores
  • Increased alcohol taxes where the use of the funds collected is not specified
  • Bans on happy hours.
• Although the majority of adults support most alcohol control policies: (1)
  • Heavy drinkers are less likely than non-drinkers to support alcohol laws, especially laws that restrict drinking in public places
  • Men are less likely than women to support alcohol laws
  • Adults who are not parents tend to be less supportive of alcohol laws than those who are parents
• High level of support for alcohol control policies are found among Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives (1)
• High levels of support for alcohol control policies are also found among: (2)
  • Adults who drink infrequently
  • Adults who have greater knowledge about teen issues.
• Older adults are more likely than younger adults to favor laws that restrict alcohol consumption in public places and restrict youth access to alcohol. (2)
• Younger adults are more likely than older adults to favor laws that increase alcohol taxes. (2)
• Highly educated adults are more likely to favor laws that restrict the marketing of alcohol. (2)
• Adults with lower levels of education are more likely to favor increasing alcohol taxes and restricting alcohol consumption in public. (2)
  

For more information order publication numbers:

(1) 11.6.122
Wagenaar AC, Harwood EM, Toomey TL, Denk CE, Zander KM. Public opinion on alcohol policies in the United States: Results from a national survey. Journal of Public Health Policy 2000;21(3):303-327.

Do adults in Puerto Rico support laws that regulate the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages?

A phone survey of 514 adults in Puerto Rico revealed:

• High levels of support for all alcohol control policies.
• 93-95% support restrictions on alcohol consumption in public places such as parks, beaches, concerts, and city streets.
• 92% support increases in alcohol taxes if the taxes are used for alcohol treatment, prevention and education.
• 84% support raising the minimum legal drinking age from 18 to 21.
• Older respondents and those reporting lower levels of consumption were more supportive of alcohol control policies.

For more information order publication number:

(1) 11.6.143
Harwood EM, Erickson DJ, Fabian LEA, Jones-Webb R, Slater S, Chaloupka FJ. Effects of communities, neighborhoods and stores on retail pricing and promotion of beer. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 2003 Sep; 64(5):720-726.