APIS Announces Update of Alcohol Policy Information
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April 1, 2011
The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), a project of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, announces its latest update of state-by-state alcohol policies. Many of these changes are consistent with the goal of reducing underage drinking and its consequences as well as alcohol-related death and injury overall. Included in the update are the following state-by-state changes:
- Arkansas, Tennessee, and Utah enacted new Prohibition against Hosting Underage Drinking Parties (social host) laws.
- Four states revised their “use/lose” laws, which penalize youth for using alcohol by imposing the loss of a young person's driver's license. Illinois and Utah made license sanctions mandatory; Maryland added consumption as a use/lose violation. Arkansas enacted a discretionary use/lose law for those under 18.
- Alabama, Montana, and West Virginia enacted legislation that altered the availability of beer with high alcohol content in state-run and licensed establishments.
- Kansas, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Washington, and West Virginia enhanced their laws by adding mandates pertaining to various elements of coverage for alcohol-related treatment.
For more information about these and other policy developments across the country, visit the APIS Web site.