OJJDP FY2010 Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Block Grant Program

The goal of the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Program is to support and enhance State efforts, in cooperation with local jurisdictions, to enforce laws prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, or the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors. For the purpose of the program, minors are defined as individuals under 21 years of age.

The goal of Hawaii's EUDL initiative is to enforce laws prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors. The State created Hawaii Partnerships to Prevent Underage Drinking (HPPUD) to address the problem of underage drinking. According to the 2003 Hawaii Student Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Study, (the most current data available), 45% of Hawaii's students in grades 6 through 12 reported consuming alcohol in their lifetime; 20% of youth from grade 6 to grade 12 have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. Of the 184 18-20 year olds admitted to treatment, 25% of admissions were for alcohol dependency only. HPPUD participation at the State, local and community level supports these four activities: 1) Media, including media campaigns, and publicity of all alcohol-free events; 2) Education, including educating youth and parents on the laws and dangers of underage drinking; 3) Enforcement, to reduce the ability of minors to purchase or obtain alcohol and to reduce the consumption of alcohol by minors. Activities include shoulder tap operations, compliance checks, on-premise operations, and park sweeps. 4) Influencing policy by researching laws, developing and introducing new underage drinking-related bills or strengthening existing laws.

NCA/NCF