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Restrict alcohol availability at public events and on public property

Health Factors: Alcohol Use
Decision Makers: Businesses & Employers, Government - Local, Government - State
Evidence Rating: Expert Opinion
Population Reach: 10-19% of WI's population
Impact on Disparities: No impact on disparities likely

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Description

A variety of policies can be used to restrict the availability and use of alcohol at public venues such as concerts, street fairs, and sporting events, as well as in public spaces such as parks and beaches. Such restrictions can be implemented voluntarily by event organizers or through local legislation. Efforts range from total bans on consumption to restrictions on the times or places alcohol can be consumed.

Expected Beneficial Outcomes

Reduced underage drinking
Reduced excessive drinking
Decreased impaired driving
Decreased public disturbance

Evidence of Effectiveness

Restricting alcohol use and availability at public events and on public property is a suggested strategy to reduce excessive drinking and underage drinking (IOM 2004, UMN-Alcohol epidemiology, Toomey 2008, Toomey 2005). Available evidence suggests that banning or restricting alcohol sales at public events may reduce alcohol availability for youth and may also reduce alcohol-related problems such as traffic crashes, vandalism, fighting, and other public disturbances (UMN-Alcohol epidemiology, RAND-Imm 2007). However, additional evidence is needed to confirm effects (Toomey 2005, Toomey 2008).

Implementation Examples

United States

Sports stadiums, music festivals, and public parks in urban and rural areas around the country limit the amount of alcohol that can be purchased at one time, the locations where alcohol may be sold, and the times when alcohol may be sold. Many organizations and event organizers also make an effort to ensure that staff are trained to comply with these policies (UMN-Alcohol epidemiology).

Wisconsin

Wisconsin does not currently have state laws limiting alcohol sales or use on public property. However, community events require Temporary Class B licenses. Communities can vary the conditions of obtaining such licenses (WI DOR-Alcohol beverage and tobacco laws). 

Implementation Resources

HSNI-Alcohol management - Helping Services for Northeast Iowa (HSNI). Alcohol management for fairs and festivals. Increase your profits. Decrease your problems. Prevent underage drinking. Dubuque: Helping Services for Northeast Iowa; 2012. Accessed on February 15, 2013
Webpage: http://www.cityofdubuque.org/DocumentCenter/View/15498
SAA-Alcohol at public events - Stop Alcohol Abuse Town Hall Meetings (SAA). Restricted sales of alcohol at public events. Accessed on February 15, 2013
Webpage: http://www.mcrud.org/Data/Sites/1/userfiles/samhsa-restrictedsalesofalcoholatpublicevents.pdf

Citations - Evidence

IOM 2004 - Institute of Medicine (IOM), National Research Council (NRC), Committee on Developing a Strategy to Reduce and Prevent Underage Drinking, Board on Children, Youth, and Families (BCYF). Reducing underage drinking: A collective responsibility. (Bonnie RJ, O’Connell ME, eds.). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2004. Accessed on June 8, 2012
Webpage: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309089352
RAND-Imm 2007 - Imm P, Chinman M, Wandersman A, Rosenbloom D, Guckenburg S, Leis R. Preventing underage drinking: Using Getting To Outcomes™ with the SAMHSA strategic prevention framework to achieve results. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation; 2007: Technical Report. Accessed on June 23, 2012
Webpage: http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR403.html
Toomey 2005 - 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):165-73. Accessed on February 15, 2013
Webpage: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497703/pdf/15842118.pdf
Toomey 2008 - Toomey TL, Erickson DJ, Lenk KM, Kilian GR. Likelihood of illegal alcohol sales at professional sport stadiums. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2008;32(11):1859-64. Accessed on February 15, 2013
Webpage: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2008.00770.x/pdf
UMN-Alcohol epidemiology - University of Minnesota Alcohol Epidemiology Program. Alcohol control policy descriptions. Accessed on June 21, 2012
Webpage: http://www.epi.umn.edu/alcohol/policy/index.shtm

Citations - Implementation Examples

UMN-Alcohol epidemiology - University of Minnesota Alcohol Epidemiology Program. Alcohol control policy descriptions. Accessed on June 21, 2012
Webpage: http://www.epi.umn.edu/alcohol/policy/index.shtm
WI DOR-Alcohol beverage and tobacco laws - State of Wisconsin Department of Revenue (WI DOR). Wisconsin alcohol beverage and tobacco laws for retailers. Madison: State of Wisconsin Department of Revenue (WI DOR); 2012:Publication 302. Accessed on February 15, 2013
Webpage: http://www.dor.state.wi.us/pubs/pb302.pdf

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Health Factors

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Alcohol Use
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Decision Makers

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Government - Local
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Evidence Rating

Level of effectiveness based on a scan of academic literature and key recommendations of leading organizations.

  • Scientifically Supported Numerous studies or systematic review(s) with positive results
  • Some Evidence Research suggests positive impacts; further study may be warranted
  • Expert Opinion Recommended by credible groups*; research evidence limited
  • Insufficient Evidence Evidence limited or unavailable; further study warranted
  • Mixed Evidence Evidence mixed; further study warranted
  • Evidence of Ineffectiveness Research consistently shows program is detrimental or has no effect

Although many policies and programs are recommended by credible groups, we apply the rating ‘expert opinion’ only when policies are recommended but limited scientific evidence of effectiveness is available.

* The American Heritage Dictionary defines credible as 'capable of being believed; plausible.' and 'worthy of confidence; reliable.' To be considered an 'expert recommendation,' policies and programs must be recommended by one or more organizations that are recognized for their impartial expertise in the area of interest and have limited evidence available.

Potential Population Reach

Portion of Wisconsin's population likely to be reached by a policy or program if implemented statewide, based on its characteristics (e.g., target population(s), geographic limitations, and potential implementers).

<1%   20-49%
1-9%   50-99%
10-19%   100%

Potential Population Reach

Portion of Wisconsin's population likely to be reached by a policy or program if implemented statewide, based on its characteristics (e.g., target population(s), geographic limitations, and potential implementers).

<1%   20-49%
1-9%   50-99%
10-19%   100%

Potential Impact on Health Disparities

Likely impact of a given policy or program on racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic or other disparities in Wisconsin based on its characteristics (e.g., target audience, mode of delivery, etc.) and best available evidence related to disparities.

  • Likely to decrease disparities
  • No impact on disparities likely
  • Likely to increase disparities