2000_1120_packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Minueapolis I)epartment of Health and Family Support Youth Access to Alcohol Research Project: Focus Groups Report 4. Overall, the participants believed that underage drinking was a problem, especially for younger kids (ages 13 to 17). Despite this acknowledgement, with very few exceptions, the participants maintained that casual drinking by underage youth was acceptable, if done in a "responsible" manner. 5. In all of the focus groups, the participants indicated initially that there was little public officials (or other adults) could do to reduce or prevent underage drinking, mainly because they believed youth were primarily responsible for reducing or preventing it. When pressed for specific actions public officials could take to reduce or prevent underage drinking, the youth suggested the officials a) increase monitoring of sales at liquor stores and convenience stores, b) enforce severe penalties for adults who supply youth with alcohol, and c) better control or reduce the overall supply of alcohol. 6. The participants believed there was enough information about underage drinking and the effects of alcohol, although youth tended to ignore the messages presented in the information. The participants believed that officials should start intense educational campaigns about alcohol in grade school and continue those efforts throughout high school. Efforts should be made also to educate adults about the effects of underage drinking. 7. The participants' responses to the focus group questions and the survey do not indicate notable differences among the various racial and cultural groups in how youth gain access to alcohol (or underage drinking habits). There were some differences, however, between males and females in their attitudes and behaviors towards alcohol that cross racial and cultural lines. Prepared by Biko Associates, Inc. Page 2