title: Public attitudes about underage drinking policies: results from a national survey.
abstract: We conducted a national telephone survey of 900 adults in the United States to examine the attitudes of the adult public regarding underage drinking and a series of alcohol control policies aimed at reducing it. Three versions of the survey instrument were administered, each to one-third of the sample, with the versions varying in the stipulations of the policy options. Results showed high levels of public support for most of the alcohol control policies, with relatively lower support for those that would result in restrictions on adults' access to alcohol. Respondents' support of the policy options was significantly related to their sociodemographic and attitudinal characteristics, such as sex, age, drinking frequency, and level of concern about underage drinking. The findings provide important guidelines to policymakers interested in garnering support for policies aimed at curtailing underage drinking.
authors.affiliation: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University, New York, New York 10017-6706, USA. lrichter@casacolumbia.org
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Roger D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D011640:Public Policy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology