Does a Place of Last Drink (POLD) Initiative Affect Alcohol Serving Staff Attitudes and Perceptions Related to Overservice of Alcohol?

Background: One enforcement strategy used to address illegal sales of alcohol to intoxicated patrons (i.e., overservice) is Place of Last Drink (POLD). When law enforcement responds to an alcohol-related incident, they ask persons involved in the incident where they had their last drink; POLD data can then be used to track patterns of overservice.Methods: We evaluated potential effects of a POLD initiative in one state (USA) on the attitudes and perceptions of serving staff (i.e., bartenders and servers) about their experiences in refusing sales to intoxicated customers. We conducted interviews with 44 serving staff across 24 communities (14 communities that participated in the POLD initiative and 10 comparison communities). We analyzed the interview transcripts using a qualitative matrix to identify major themes.Results: We found few differences across the two study conditions, with interview participants having no apparent awareness of POLD and many stating that overservice occurs frequently without law enforcement getting involved. One difference we identified was serving staff from communities in the POLD initiative reporting generally positive experiences with their managers when refusing sales to intoxicated patrons, whereas serving staff in comparison communities more commonly saying they were overruled by their managers. It is possible that these differences are the result of the POLD initiative; however, more research is needed.Conclusions: In general, serving staff across communities share many similar perceptions and attitudes around overservice. These findings can inform future implementation of POLD and other strategies to reduce overservice of alcohol.

Place of last drink enforcement: Effects on alcohol-related traffic crashes

BACKGROUND

Binge drinking can result in various types of harms including traffic crashes. Bars and restaurants that serve alcohol to patrons who are obviously intoxicated (i.e., overservice) contribute to these crashes. One strategy to address overservice is place of last drink (POLD) where law enforcement officers responding to alcohol-related incidents inquire about where the individuals last drank alcohol. This information may then be used to identify bars and restaurants that frequently overserve alcohol. There is limited evaluation of the effectiveness of POLD in reducing overservice, traffic crashes, and other harms.

METHODS

We evaluated the effects of a POLD initiative, developed by some law enforcement agencies in Minnesota (USA), on alcohol-related traffic crashes from 2010 to 2019. Among 89 intervention (POLD) vs. comparison communities, we fit regression models with participation in POLD as the predictor. As secondary analyses, we fit models with POLD implementation level as the predictor (implementation levels were assessed via a survey of law enforcement agencies). We controlled for relevant community and agency characteristics.

RESULTS

In the model with participation in POLD as a predictor, there was little difference in the rate of total alcohol-related crashes (rate ratio [RR] = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.85-1.34). In the model with level of implementation as a predictor, the rate of total alcohol-related crashes was comparable between communities with high implementation and those with no implementation (RR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.71-1.10). Similar results were seen for alcohol-related crashes with nonfatal injury and property damage outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found little evidence that the POLD initiative, as currently implemented, was associated with reductions in traffic crashes across communities in Minnesota. Further research could explore whether specific characteristics of POLD are particularly important and whether POLD could be combined with other strategies to reduce traffic crashes and other alcohol-related harms.

Restricting Sales of Menthol Tobacco Products: Lessons Learned from Policy Passage and Implementation in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth, Minnesota

Purpose: Commercial tobacco products have historically been target marketed to African American, Latinx, Asian American Pacific Islander, Indigenous, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) communities, as well as to youth. Menthol cigarettes increase smoking initiation and decrease smoking cessation, particularly among African Americans who smoke menthol cigarettes at higher rates than their white peers. Due to disproportionate tobacco-related health consequences for members of these communities, effective tobacco control policies that restrict availability of menthol products by focusing on retail sales are an important element of addressing health disparities, and require policy efforts informed by leadership and the voice of communities most impacted. This study examines the organizing efforts of three successful policy initiatives in 2017–2018 in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth, Minnesota, and identifies facilitators and barriers of these campaigns.

Methods: We conducted 50 key informant interviews with city council/staff, advocates, and community members and analyzed them for emerging themes. The analysis employed a process-oriented qualitative matrix process to identify emerging themes and divergent perspectives.

Results: Following policy implementation, outlets selling commercial menthol tobacco products substantially decreased. Facilitators included strong city council support, leadership from impacted communities, community awareness-building campaigns, and understanding tobacco industry counter-tactics. Challenges included the need to counter tobacco industry misinformation and retailer attempts to circumvent the intent of restrictions.

Conclusion: Well-planned advocacy campaigns led by community members most impacted by commercial tobacco can overcome opposition and challenges to restrict sales of menthol tobacco products and successfully reduce availability of these products in their communities.

Exploiting motherhood: Do mummy drinking sites offer real support or are they mainly alcohol marketing?

Even as women's roles have expanded substantially beyond traditional sex stereotypes, women are still commonly portrayed as uncomplaining caregivers, long-suffering intimate partners and in control of family matters, all while maintaining a sexualised femininity. Nowhere are these stereotypes and expectations more apparent than for mothers. However, some social media are exploiting mothers by inappropriately offering alcohol consumption as a solution to the challenges of parenting. This is a very timely topic, given the impacts of COVID-19 on family and home life, and potential for an increase in alcohol-related problems and health harms. We address these issues and offer alternatives to alcohol consumption as an easy solution to countering challenges of parenthood.

Violence-Related Outcomes of the D.A.R.E. Plus Project

The objectives of this study were to examine outcomes of the Minnesota D.A.R.E. Plus Project on violence-related behaviors among middle school students and mediation analyses that test how the intervention was effective in reducing physical and verbal violence. Twenty-four schools were randomly assigned to the D.A.R.E. middle school curriculum, the D.A.R.E. Plus multicomponent intervention, or control. The study cohort completed a self-report questionnaire at baseline and two follow-ups. The results showed that boys had higher rates of violence and victimization than girls. The D.A.R.E. Plus program was more effective in preventing violence among boys than among girls. It appears that the small behavioral effect that D.A.R.E. Plus did demonstrate on physical and verbal violence among boys was entirely mediated by a decrease of norms that support violence, an increase in outcome expectancies about being violence-free, and an increase in parental consequences for fighting.

The Wiidookowishin program: results from a qualitative process evaluation of a culturally tailored commercial tobacco cessation program

Commercial tobacco use rates remain disproportionately high among American Indians (AIs). Tailored cessation programs such as the Wiidookowishin (Help Me) program implemented at the Fond du Lac Reservation in Minnesota have demonstrated that such programs can be successful and achieve quit rates similar to mainstream programs. This paper presents findings from a qualitative process evaluation of the Wiidookowishin program and discusses elements that underlie its success at recruiting and enrolling participants, including individualization, flexibility, accessibility, ongoing outreach, and inclusion of traditional tobacco teachings. Lessons learned can be applied to the development of tailored programs to reduce tobacco-related disparities among AIs.

Elements for successful collaboration between K-8 school, community agency, and university partners: the lead peace partnership

BACKGROUND

Researchers, schools, and community organizations are increasingly interested in forming partnerships to improve health and learning outcomes for adolescents. School-based service learning programs with young adolescents have been shown to improve students' health and educational outcomes. Quality school-based service learning practice requires partnerships that are collaborative, mutually beneficial, and address community needs. This article examines core elements of a community-school-university partnership engaged in implementing and evaluating Lead Peace, a service learning program for urban middle school youth.

METHODS

The partnership was assessed through (1) semistructured group interviews with program facilitators at each school at the end of the 2006 to 2007 and 2007 to 2008 school years; (2) key informant interviews with school administrators; and (3) participant observations of partnership meetings. Qualitative analysis was conducted to identify common and emerging themes that contribute to the success of the Lead Peace partnership.

RESULTS

Ten themes were identified as keys to the success of the Lead Peace partnership: (1) communication; (2) shared decision making; (3) shared resources; (4) expertise and credibility; (5) sufficient time to develop and maintain relationships; (6) champions and patron saints; (7) being present; (8) flexibility; (9) a shared youth development orientation; and (10) recognition of other partners' priorities.

CONCLUSIONS

Partnerships that are essential to quality service learning practice require deliberate planning and ongoing attention. Elements of the successful Lead Peace partnership may be useful for other collaborators to consider.

Brief Report: The Adaptation of Project Northland for Urban Youth

OBJECTIVE

Summarizes the research and intervention design of a new trial to evaluate an adaptation of Project Northland, a multicomponent, community-wide alcohol prevention program for culturally diverse youth living in a large city. The original Project Northland was successful in reducing alcohol use among a sample of mostly White, rural adolescents.

METHODS

We highlight the steps taken to adapt the intervention strategies for culturally diverse inner-city youth, families, and neighborhoods. The research design is a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the adapted Project Northland for reducing the early onset and prevalence of alcohol use among young urban adolescents.

CONCLUSION

The information gained from this trial, including the process of adaptation of prevention strategies, will be beneficial for alcohol-use prevention efforts within diverse urban communities across the country.

A randomized controlled trial of the middle and junior high school D.A.R.E. and D.A.R.E. Plus programs

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of the middle and junior high school Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) and D.A.R.E. Plus programs on drug use and violence.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial of 24 schools, with 3 conditions: D.A.R.E. only, D.A.R.E. Plus, and delayed program control.

SETTING

Schools and neighborhoods, primarily in Minneapolis-St Paul.

PARTICIPANTS

All seventh-grade students in 24 schools in the academic year 1999-2000 (N = 6237 at baseline, 67.3% were white, and there was 84.0% retention at final follow-up).

INTERVENTIONS

The middle and junior high school D.A.R.E. curriculum in the 16 schools that received D.A.R.E. only and D.A.R.E. Plus. In the 8 schoolts that received D.A.R.E. Plus, additional components included a peer-led parental involvement classroom program called "On the VERGE," youth-led extracurricular activities, community adult action teams, and postcard mailings to parents. The interventions were implemented during 2 school years, when the cohort was in the seventh and eighth grades.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-reported tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use; multidrug use; violence; and victimization, assessed at the beginning and end of seventh grade and at the end of eighth grade. Growth curve analytic methods were used to assess changes over time by condition.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between D.A.R.E. only and the controls; significant differences among boys between D.A.R.E. Plus and controls for tobacco, alcohol, and multidrug use and victimization; significant differences among boys between D.A.R.E. Plus and D.A.R.E. only in tobacco use and violence; and no significant behavioral differences among girls.

CONCLUSION

D.A.R.E. Plus significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. curriculum among boys and was more effective than the delayed program controls, underscoring the potential for multiyear, multicomponent prevention programs and demonstrating sex differences in response to intervention programs.