title: The effect of internal possession laws on underage drinking among high school students: a 12-state analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the effect of internal possession (IP) laws, which allow law enforcement to charge underage drinkers with alcohol possession if they have ingested alcohol, on underage drinking behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data from 12 states with IP laws and with YRBS data before and after each law's implementation. We used logistic regression models with fixed effects for state to assess the effects of IP laws on drinking and binge drinking among high school students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Implementation of IP laws is associated with reductions in the odds of past-month drinking. This reduction was bigger among male than among female adolescents (27% vs 15%) and only significant among younger students aged 14 and 15 years (15% and 11%, respectively). Male adolescents also reported a significant reduction (24%) in the odds of past-month binge drinking under IP laws.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that IP laws are effective in reducing underage drinking, particularly among younger adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System, CSR, Incorporated, Arlington, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Disney
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: LaVallee
authors.forename: Hsiao-Ye
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult