Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Assessment, Strategic Planning ...

e used to promote policy development, sound policy development is an essentialcomponent of a comprehensive approach. The leadership should have the ability to createan inclusive synergy to address the program needs as well as adequate time to focus onprogrammatic needs. Program efforts should be data-driven and science-based. Criteria forchoosing programs to implement and replicate should include a strong theoreticalframework and independent evaluations determining the program’s success. Programs andactivities should focus on underage drinking—including the adults who supply the alcohol toyouth—guided by problem identification, and they should be carefully managed andmonitored for effectiveness. Adequate resources should be devoted to the problem. Anassessment by independent experts should support EUDL program policy development andstrategic planning processes.A. State and Local CoalitionsStates and local subdivisions should convene Enforcing Underage Drinking Lawscoalitions and foster leadership, commitment, and coordination among all partiesinterested in the EUDL program. A statewide coalition should be convened followingeach EUDL assessment to develop a statewide strategic plan for implementing theassessment recommendations and to oversee its implementation. Coalitions should:• enjoy active support and participation from the highest levels of leadership in theagencies and communities.• include members who represent all interested parties, both traditional andnontraditional, such as representatives of: government—alcohol beverageenforcement, law enforcement, juvenile and criminal justice, public health, and driverlicensing and education agencies—and business (employers and unions); themilitary; medical and health care organizations; and multicultural, faith-based,advocacy, youth, and other community groups.• recommend goals and objectives, provide policy guidance, identify availableresources, and develop leveraging opportunities.• coordinate programs and activities to ensure that they complement rather thancompete with each other. If the state funds local programs, their goals and objectivesshould cascade from the state’s goals and objectives.• operate continuously, based on clear authority and direction. It is desirable that thestate-level ―Underage Drinking Law Enforcement Coalition be established by law.B. Strategic PlanningStates should develop and implement an overall plan for short- and long-term activitiesto prevent underage drinking. The plan should:• be based on careful problem identification that uses police stops, juvenile custody,arrests, convictions, emergency room admissions, and other available data toidentify the populations and geographic areas most at risk.OMB No. 1121-0329Approval Expires 02/28/201320OJJDP FY 2011 EUDL Assessment, Strategic Planning, and Implementation InitiativeOJJDP-2011-2997