HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-03 Correspondence City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council and City Manager
FROM: Kevin O'Malley, Finance Director~'~.2,,,FcvL'
DATE: September 28, 2000
RE: Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting -
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1999
The City of Iowa City has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1999.
A certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is
presented by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United
States and Canada to government units and public employer retirement
systems whose comprehensive annual financial reports achieve the highest
standards in government accounting and financial reporting. The City has
received the award for each of the past 15 years.
This award was achieved through the hard work and diligence of our
Accounting staff.
Clean Air F
'P.O. Box 308
Iowa City, Iowa
52244-0308
Phone: 319-338-1494
clean Air For Everyone
October 3, 2000
Dear Iowa City City Council Members,
There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. The U.S. Surgeon General has concluded
secondhand smoke "is a cause of disease, including lung cancer in healthy non-smokers." Therefore,
the Johnson County Tobacco Free Coalition request that the City of Iowa City pass a smoke-free
restaurant ordinance making all restaurants in Iowa City totally smoke-free.
The citizens of Iowa City support this action. In a recent poll (Clean Indoor Air Survey, Aug 15 2000,
RMA Inc) 68% felt that second hand smoke is a personal health risk. 84% believed that separating
smokers and non-smokers does not solve the problem. Environmental tobacco smoke, like asbestos, is
a Class-A carcinogen. Therefore, there is no safe level of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
Every breath you take in a smoky restaurant damages your health. Smokefree restaurants are common
sense, cormnon courtesy and save lives.
A smoke-free restaurant ordinance:
* Is about public health - it protects restaurant employees and patrons from secondhand smoke.
· Protects children, the elderly and anyone with allergies, asthma or other breathing problems.
· Does no harm to business. Study at~er study has shown that, quite simply, there is no adverse
economic effect, period.
For these reasons, the Johnson County Tobacco Free Coalition' s "Clean Air For Everyone" campaign
urges you strongly to support the passage of a smoke-free restaurant ordinance in Iowa City.
Respectfully yours,
Eileen Fisher Peter Wallace Beth Ballinger
Members, Johnson County Tobacco Free Coalition - Clean Air for Everyone (CAFIg)
Smoke Free Restaurants
It's a Health Thing
Did you know that every breath you take in a smoky restaurant could damage your
health?
Why?
· Secondhand smoke is a Class A carcinogen, meaning that there is no
safe level of exposure.
· The U.S. Surgeon General concluded that secondhand smoke, "is a
cause of disease, including lung cancer in healthy non-smokers".
· It's particularly dangerous to children, the elderly and anyone with
allergies, asthma or other breathing problems.
· Restaurant workers, many of whom arc teenagers, have no choice
but to inhale secondhand smoke for hours at a time, increasing these
risks tremendously.
Our Citizens say...
· 68% of Iowa City residents polled believe secondhand smoke is
a personal health risk.
· 88% of Iowa City residents polled prefer visiting businesses
where there is no smoking.
· 83.8% of Iowa City Residents polled agree that separating
smokers and non-smokers does not eliminate the exposure of
non-smokers to secondhand smoke.
Smoke-flee restaurants - good sense, good
health and good business
AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENTS IN RESTAURANTS
WHEREAS, there is a substantial body of scientific research showing that breathing environmental tobacco
smoke (ETS) is a significant health hazard for nonsmokers, as evidenced by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency's risk assessment classifying ETS as a group A carcinogen; and
WHEREAS, numerous other studies have found that tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air
pollution and that breathing second-hand smoke is a cause of disease, including lung cancer, in
nonsmokers. At special risk are children, the elderly, individuals with cardiovascular disease, and
individuals with impaired respiratory function, including asthmatics and those with obstructive airway
disease; and
WHEREAS, according to a study done by RMA in August 2000, 93% of the people in Iowa City and
Coralville believe that second-hand smoke is a health risk, and 74% support restrictions on smoking in
public places; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the people of the City of Iowa City to protect the health of persons
affected by the smoking of others while in indoor areas open to the public, public meetings, food service
establishments, and places of employment by restricting involuntary exposure to environmental tobacco
smoke; and
THEREFORE, the purpose of this ordinance is to preserve and improve the health, comfort, and
environment of the people of the City of Iowa City by further limiting exposure to environmental tobacco
smoke.
SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS:
1. BAR means an establishment or portion of an establishment where one can purchase and consume
alcoholic beverages as defined in the Iowa Code section 123.3, subsection 4, but excluding any
establishment or portion of the establishment having table and seating facilities for serving of meals to
more than fifty people at one time and where, in consideration of payment, meals are served at tables
to the public.
2. FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT means any indoor restaurant or other area open to the public or
portion thereof in which the business is the sale of food for on-premises consumption.
3. PUBLIC MEETING means a gathering in person of the members of a government body, whether an
open or a closed session under chapter 21.
4. SMOKING means the carrying of or control over a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or other lighted
smoking equipment.
5. PUBLIC PLACE means any enclosed indoor area used by the general public or serving as a place of
work containing two hundred fifty or more square feet of floor space, including, but not limited to, all
restaurants, all retain stores, lobbies and malls, offices, including waiting rooms, and other commercial
establishments; public conveyances with departures, travel, and destination entirely within this state;
educational facilities; hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other health car and medical facilities; and
auditoriums, elevators, theaters, libraries, art museums, concert halls, indoor arenas, and meeting
rooms. "Public Place" does not include a retail store where tobacco or tobacco products are sold, a
private, enclosed office occupied exclusively by smokers even though the office may be visited by
nonsmokers, a room used primarily as the residence of students or other persons at an educational
facility, a sleeping room in a motel or hotel, or each resident's room in a health care facility. The
person in custody or control of the facility shall provide a sufficient number of rooms in which
smoking is not permitted to accommodate all persons who desire such rooms.
6. EMPLOYEE means any person who is employed by any employer in consideration for direct or
indirect monetary wages or profit, any person who volunteers his or her services a non-profit entity.
7. RESTAURANT means a food service establishment whose sale of alcohol accounts for less than fifty
percent of the establishment's gross receipts.
SECTION 2 PROHIBITIONS:
A. Smoking in a public place which is a restaurant is prohibited in Iowa City.
B. Such restaurant shall be designated as a no smoking area.
C. Notwithstanding the forgoing provisions, this ordinance does not apply to bars and private residences.
SECTION 3 POSTING OF SIGNS:
A person having custody or control of a public place or public meeting shall cause signs to be posted within
the appropriate areas of the facility advising patrons of smoking and no-smoking areas. In addition the
statement "Smoking prohibited except in designated areas" shall be conspicuously posted on all major
entrances to the public place or public meeting.
SECTION 4 REASONABLE DISTANCE:
Smoking shall occur at a reasonable distance outside any enclosed area where smoking is prohibited by this
Ordinance to insure that tobacco smoke does not enter the restaurant through entrances, windows,
ventilation system or any other means.
SECTION 5 ENFORCEMENT:
A. Enforcement of this Ordinance shall be implemented by the City of Iowa City, or his or her designee.
B. Notice of the provisions set forth in this Ordinance shall be given to all applicants for a business
license in the City of Iowa City.
C. Any citizen or other affected person who desires to register a complaint under this chapter may initiate
enforcement with the City of Iowa City.
D. The Johnson County Department of Health and the Fire Department shall require, while a restaurant is
undergoing otherwise mandated inspections, a "self-certification" from the owner, manager, operator
or other person having control of such restaurant that all requirements of this Ordinance have been
complied with.
E. Any owner, manager, operator or employee of any restaurant regulated by this Ordinance shall inform
persons violating this article of the appropriate provisions thereof.
SECTION 6 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES:
A. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns, manages, operates or otherwise controls the use of any
premises subject to regulation under this Ordinance to fail to comply with any of its provisions.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke in any area where smoking is prohibited by the provisions
of this Ordinance.
C. Any person who violates any provision of this Ordinance shall be guilty of an infraction punishable by:
1. A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for a first violation.
2. A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) for a second violation within one (1 )
year.
3. A free not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for each additional violation within one
(1) year of preceding violation.
SECTION 7 SEVERABILITY:
If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or
circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this article which
can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this article
are declared to be severable.
SECTION 8 EFFECTIVE DATE:
This Ordinance shall be effective thirty (30) days from and after the date of its adoption.
Passed and approved this day of ,2000
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
Approved by
City Attomey's Office
~ 0-03-00 [
Marian Karr 4g(2)
From: S LWestcott@aol. com
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 1:04 PM
To: cou ncil@iowa-city. org
Subject: Smoking issue
Please don't let anymore special interest groups interfere with our freedom.
From the Federal Gov. down to the city level we have been hit with all kinds
of rules and laws on smoking. Where and where we can not smoke. Please do not
interfere with the private sector. Let the restaurant owners decide what
policies they wish to enforce. There are many restaurants that are smoke free
now, so people do have a choice. Don't make it so some of us have no choice.
Thank you
Shirley Westcott
I 0-03-00
Marian Karr 4g(3)
From: 2nd email for gljohnso [geoff@arthur.avalon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 10:04 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Smoking in Restaurants Issue
Dear Council,
I understand that there is a discussion of the expected proposition to ban
smoking in Iowa City restaurants. I intend to be in attendence at the
next several city council meetings, but in case I can not be, I wish to
state my opinion on the matter.
I myself am not a smoker. I choose not to smoke because it is a dirty,
smelly, and unhealthy habit. I have no problems however, with those whom
choose to smoke for what ever reasons they do so. I do have problems with
people smoking in enclosed places open to the public though. It is a
public health hazard to subject unwilling people to cigarette smoke.
Some people may claim that smoking and non-smoking sections negate the
secondhand smoke factor, but a number of non-smoking sections are not well
defined. They often have no wall, though a fair number have a four foot
wall or some other sort of innefective partition which allows smoke to
waft over, around, or through it to the non-smoking section. A number of
restaurants also have no smoking sections in the back of the restaurant,
so non-smokers have to walk past or through the smoking section to get to
the non-smoking section. Carlos O'Kelly's and TGI Fridays are a couple of
examples of this. Both also have the waiting area near the smoking
section.
Personally, I have been greatly inconvenienced by smoking in restaurants.
I have always had a dislike for cigarette smoke, but in April I had sinus
surgery. Afterwards, for 3 months, I was unable to go around smoke at
all. Had I done so, a great deal of damage could have been done to my
sinuses, nose, and my lungs and throat which would probably get infected
by bacteria from the blood likely to drain down my throat. In addition, I
would have experienced a great deal of pain. I also was unable to be
around smoke for one week prior, as I was unable to take my allergy
medications a week before surgery.
My surgery restricted me to my house for some time on its own, but
afterwards, cigarette smoke prevented me from going to a number of places
I enjoyed going. I spent close to a month eating liquids and mashed
potatoes, and other soft foods at home, and when I was finally able to
leave the house, I was greatly restricted on my choice of dining.
I strongly urge you to pass this ordinance. It will eliminate much of the
danger to the health of the citizens of Iowa City, and improve the
cleanliness and visibility of our restaurants.
Geoffrey L. Johnson
2687 Concord Circle
C oN s 7 qs7~ l'?~,v 7~/ T l'J['O"
Mr. William !!ascbamgel
620 5th Ave.
Iox~,a City, IA 52245-4529
From: Garymindy@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 7:44 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Cc: gary-j-russell@uiowa.edu
Subject: Street Repair Near Regina School
I live on the East side of Iowa City and
regularly drive to work along Rochester
Blvd. I am writing to complain about
a road repair in front of Regina School.
This repair (completed near the end of August)
basically repainted the yellow lines on the
road to allow for a turning line. Unfortunately,
the repair team did an extremely poor job of
painting out the old lines. A poor quality white
paint was used -- and it didn't work well. You
can easily see the old lines along with the
new lines.
This is a safety hazard -- particularly at night.
In poor lighting, it's very hard to figure out which
lines ought to be obeyed. I've seen cars swerving
back and forth due to the driver's confusion.
I would appreciate it if you would forward this
email to the relevant city department. Please
ask the supervisor to drive out to Regina School
and inspect the work for himself or herself.
Thanks ... Gary Russell
30 Heron Circle, Iowa City
From: Jeff Davidson
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 10:38 AM
To: 'garymindy@aol.com'
Cc: *City Council
Subject: Your email of 9/19/00; Rochester Avenue pavement markings
Hello Gary. Your email asking about the Rochester Ave pavement markings was forwarded to me for response. The old
centerline from the 2-lane pavement markings was not painted out, a grinding machine was used to grind it off. The "line"
you are seeing is the freshly ground white concrete, which is unfortunately a byproduct of this process. This will gradually
disappear as oil and weathering darkens it to the same shade as the rest of the pavement. Motorists have been very good
about being cautious as they get used to the new 3-lane section, and we have not had any serious problems. Next year
this section of Rochester Ave will be milled and new brighter, more permanent pavement markings installed.
From: Garymindy@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 8:13 PM
To: Jeff_Davidson@iowa-city.org
Cc: Council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Re: Your email of 9/19~00; Rochester Avenue pavement markings
Dear Mr. Davidson,
Thank you for your note. I appreciate your explaining how the
repair job was done. However, the fact remains that the old
lines still have visible yellow paint showing. The lines are not
just white concrete. Perhaps, the repair crew did not grind
down the pavement sufficiently.
If you have not done so already, I would appreciate it if you would
drive out to the Regina School on Rochester and inspect the
work yourself. i'm skeptical that the old yellow lines will fade
any time soon.
-- Gary Russell
.... urlglnal Ivlessage ..... 1 o-o3-oo
From: Scott Wright [mailto:wright@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 4:54 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org; jschnake@ci.coralville.ia.us;
khayworth @ci. coralville. ia. us
Subject: Pedestrian Safety
I do not know who to address this to specifically. If I am not sending this
to the right place, then please notify me and forward it where it needs to go.
I am concerned about pedestrian safety where Mormon Trek goes under the rail
road bridge near the Hawkeye Apartments. Looking at a map, it appears that
the rail road is the boundry between Coralville and Iowa City.
Understandably, one city can easily pass the buck and avoid responsibility for
this problem.
Like many people, I live in the University's Hawkeye Court apartments and
communte to school, often by bicycle, via the pedestrian trail that runs from
this location to the University campus. My wife, my two small children, and
many of my neighbors also cross the street here regularly. I dare any of you,
at any hour of the day, to cross the street at this location.
I understand that there is some planning or consideration for widening this
section of Mormon Trek. Is this correct?
What consideration is being made for correcting this problem?
I suggest one of the following solutions:
a pedestrian bridge
a pedestrian tunnel
button activated traffic light and crosswalk
What direction/advice do you have for a pedestrian who must regularly risk
crossing this street?
I recognize that this may be confidential-but I often wonder if anyone has
died crossing the street there.
Thanks!
scott wright
From: Jeff Davidson
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 5:19 PM
To: 'wright@blue.weeg.uiowaedu'
Cc: Madan Karr
Subject: FW: Pedestrian Safety
Hello Scott. I am the Traffic Engineering Planner for the City of Iowa City. The Cities of Coralville and Iowa City are
beginning a 2-year project this fall which will reconstruct the Mormon Trek BIvd corridor between Melrose Ave and First
Ave in Coralville. The reconstruction will include sidewalks on both sides of the street, and the RR viaduct will be
reconstructed and widened so that sidewalks will fit underneath. Visibility for a pedestrian crossing the street will be
greatly enhanced. So there are improvements in the works, but they will take a couple of years to complete. In the
meantime I would encourage you to continue to be very careful when walking in this area. Fortunately I am not aware of
any pedestrian injuries or fatalities that have occurred in the area.
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date: September 18, 2000
To: City Clerk
From: Jeff Davidson, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner
Fie: Installation of NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER sign on the east side of the 900 block
of Webster Street.
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council
of the following action. This action will occur on or shortly after October 4, 2000.
Action:
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10), of the City Code, signage indicating NO PARKING HERE TO
CORNER will be erected on the east side of the 900 block of Webster Street near the
intersection with Page Street.
Comment:
This action is being taken to protect a municipal fire hydrant on the southwest corner of the
intersection of Page Street and Webster Street.
Iw/mem/jd-webster. doc
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date: September 18, 2000
To: City Clerk
From: Jeff Davidson, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner 7111f/
Re: Installation of STOP sign on Village Road at the intersection with Wellington Drive.
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council
of the following action. This action will occur on or shortly after October 4, 2000.
Action:
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(5), of the City Code, signage indicating STOP will be erected on
Village Road at the intersection with Wellington Drive.
Comment:
With the acceptance of the public improvements for the final OPDH and site plan for Lots 46
and 47 of Village Green Part XVII, it is necessary to erect signage indicating vehicles on Village
Road are required to stop at the intersection with Wellington Drive. There are two intersections
of Village Road and Wellington Drive; this is the intersection adjacent to Scott Boulevard.
Iw/mem/jd-villagerd.doc
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM .....
TO: City Clerk
FROM: Jeff Davidson, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner
DATE: September 26, 2000
RE: Item for October 3 City Council Meeting Agenda: Installation of
STOP signs on Commerce Drive and Independence Road at the
intersections with 420th Street
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to
advise the City Council of the following action.
Action
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(5) of the City Code, signage indicating STOP will
be erected on Commerce Drive and Independence Road at the intersections
with 420th Street.
Comment
This action is being taken to assign the right-of-way at these intersections
within the Scott-Six Industrial Park.
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Clerk
FROM: Jeff Davidson, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~'~
DATE: September 26, 2000
RE: Item for October 3 City Council meeting agenda: Installation of
pavement markings on Ruppert Road at the intersection with Iowa
Highway 1
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the
City Council of the following action. This action will occur, weather permitting,
before October 16, 2000.
Action
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(2) of the City Code, pavement markings indicating one
entrance lane and two exit lanes will be painted on Ruppert Road at the
intersection with Iowa Highway 1.
Comment
Ruppert Road is being repainted to have two exit lanes and one entrance lane.
This action is being taken to improve congested conditions during peak traffic
periods.
10-03-00
City of Iowa City
·
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Clerk
FROM: Jeff Davidson, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner '~'~'/
DATE: September 26, 2000
RE: Item for October 3 City Council meeting agenda: Installation of
pavement markings and NO PARKING signs on Summit Street at
the intersection with Kirkwood Avenue
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to
advise the City Council of the following action. This action will occur, weather
permitting, before October 16, 2000.
Action
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(2) of the City Code, pavement markings indicating
one entrance lane and two exit lanes will be painted on Summit Street at the
intersection with Kirkwood Avenue. Signage will be installed indicating NO
PARKING ANY TIME on the west side of Summit Street between Sheridan
Avenue and the bridge over the Iowa Interstate Railroad.
Comment
Summit Street is being repainted to have two exit lanes and one entrance
lane. This action is being taken to improve congested conditions during peak
traffic periods. The establishment of NO PARKING ANY TIME on the west side
of Summit Street between Sheridan Avenue and the bridge will increase the
safety of southbound turning movements from Sheridan Avenue onto Summit
Street.
-
~ ,, -_-, .
. EPPiI IG UP cr
A COMMUNrrY AND CAMPUS COALITION TO REDUCE BINGE DRINKING
THE UNIVERSFI'Y OF IOWA ,, IOWA CITY · CORALVILLE
DATE: 9-28-2000 "~::- ~-'--z~ ,,
~ .. I
MEMO TO: Iowa City Council Members
-
FROM: Julie PhyelStepping Up !~ ~ .-7
RE: Alcohol Purchase Survey
Hello,
You may find the enclosed document helpful in your considerations of the alcohol
issue. This is an abbreviated version. I will provide Andy Matthews with the
comprehensive guide. If you would like a copy of the 35 page document, please let
me or Andy know and I can gladly send you one.
Thanks.
The Stepping Up Project 319-335-1349 or 319-353-2529
S-20 Carrier Hall Fax: 319-353-2527
Julie Phye, Ph.D, Coordinator
Oj~ U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Office of Juvenile Juslice and Delinquency Prevention
Guide to Conducting
Alcohol Purchase Surveys
Pacific Institute
'. In support of the
OJ~DP E~farci~g t~e
..... ~,,.~. g~erage Drinking Le~s Program
This project was supported by Award No. 98-,4H-F8-O l l 4, awarded by the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice
Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view o.r opinions in this
document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the
official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
This document was written by Joel W. Grube, Ph.D., and Kathryn Stewart
of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
The authors wish to acknowledge Robert W. Carpenter, also of Pacific
Institute, and K. Michael Cummings, Ph.D., M.P.H., Director of the
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, for their work on tobacco
outlet inspections, which formed the basis for parts of this document.
The authors would like to thank Patricia A. Madden of the Prevention
Research Center in Berkeley, CA, for her assistance in reviewing earlier
drafts of the manuscript.'
In addition, the authors wish to thank the advisors to Pacific Institute on the
Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws initiative who provided invaluable
insights and suggestions that clarified and improved the final document.
Field Advisors Mike Lowther
James E. Coppie Director
Executive Deputy Director Southwest Center for the
National Crime Prevention Council Application of Prevention
Technologies
Johnnetta Davis University of Oklahoma
Director, Special Field Services
The Underage DrinMng Sandra Miscovich
Enforcement Training Center Program Director
Pacific Institute The Alaska Council on Prevention
of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Inc.
Gary Fisher, Ph.D.
Director Diane Riibe
Western Center for the Application Executive Director
of Prevention Technologies Project Extra Mile
University of Nevada
Cheryl Vince-Whitman and
Gerald F. Jaker, Ed.S. Michael Rosati
Project Director Northeast Center for the
Central Center for the Application Application of Prevention
of Prevention Technologies Technologies
Minnesota Institute of Public Health Education Development Center, Inc.
Law Enforcement Advisors Lt. Col. Robert C. Hickes
Ben Click Deputy Commissioner of Staff
Chief of Police Pennsylvania. State Police
City of Dallas Police Department
Captain Mark Willingham
Manuel R. Espinoza Youth & Alcohol/Tobacco
Chief Deputy Director Program Administrator
California Department of Alcoholic Florida Division of Alcoholic
Beverage Control Beverages and Tobacco
Gregory M. Hamilton Partner Organizations
Chief Bobby Heard
Enforcement and Marketing Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Practices
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Clifford Karchmer
Commission Police Executive Research Forum
Officer Gary Hein Trina Leonard
Minneapolis Police Department National Association of Governors'
Community Services Bureau State Highway Representatives
bout This Guide
People who care about young people are aware of the serious problems caused by underage
alcohol use. They should also be aware that there are many effective strategies for reducing
underage drinking. Every State and community should be using these strategies. The Guide
to Conducting Alcohol Purchase Surveys provides information about one important tool for
tombating underage drinking: the alcohol purchase survey. These surveys involve sending
minors or young-looking adults into stores to purchase alcohol. In this way, law
enforcement agencies and community members can fmd out who is selling alcoholic
beverages to our children.
Why Do Purchase Surveys?
Illegal sales to minors can be prevented, but most communities need valid information in
order to do the most effective job of prevention. Alcohol purchase surveys can provide this
information.
They also
· Tell us who is selling to minors and how often,
· Raise community awareness and build support for reducing sales to minors,
· Inform merchants that they are being monitored by the community,
· Aid law enforcement, and
c-~ · Help monitor the impact of prevention strategies.
-- · This guide can be used by advocates and policymakers to provide a rationale for carrying
;.-~-. ca_ _L ! OUt purchase surveys.
c-I ,-
!__~ __ :,.-; _; < ,. The guide can also be used by organizations for
~':~ ~") , Planning the surveys.
· Coordinating the efforts of various community organizations and agencies that
have a stake in the surveys.
· Recruiting and training youth inspectors.
· Carrying out the surveys.
· Analyzing the data from the surveys, and
· Using the information from the surveys to change policy, obtain
needed resources, and draw attention to the problem of sales to
minors.
Because the legal, social, and geographic characteristics of localities differ,
the guide describes an array of flexible options that can allow the general
survey techniques to be adapted to local circumstances.
ontents
About This Guide ........................................................................................iv
Introduction ..................................................................................................1
How Do Kids Get Alcohol? ...................................................................2
Why Conduct Alcohol Purchase Surveys? ............................................ 2
How Do You Conduct Purchase Surveys? ............................................. 2
Five Reasons for Conducting Alcohol Purchase Surveys ...................... 4
Chapter 1: Planning Alcohol Purchase Surveys ...........................................5
Who Should Carry Out the Survey? ......................................................5
What Kinds of Alcohol Outlets Should Be Surveyed? .......................... 6
Should Minors Be Used as Buyers? .......................................................6
Should the Survey Include Enforcement or
Be Conducted for Data Collection Only? ..............................................7
Should Informational Letters Be Sent? ..................................................7
-~ Chapter 2: Carrying Out Purchase Surveys ..................................................9
f.:: (-? Purchase Survey Protocol ......................................................................9
r"'~ 7-'-. ......
t~'i'~"- c';' -: ! .....· Characteristics of Buyers ..............................................................10
"' ! c'-~ ~'~'... L Controlling for Buyer Characteristics ...........................................10
-_7~.- ~ --~ .... Recruiting Buyers ..........................................................................I 1
L.i ~ ~' : '~ ' Recruiting Tips 12
,_5 """: ..............................................................................
~-, {=h leams .............................................................................................12
.... -- Compensation and Insurance .........................................................12
Validating Youthful Appearance ...................................................13
Escorts ...........................................................................................13
Recruiting Escorts .........................................................................14
Compensation ................................................................................15
Training Session ............................................................................16
Survey Team Preparations .............................................................17
Money for Purchases .....................................................................18
Disposition of Purchased Alcohol .................................................18
Letters of Verification ...................................................................18
Costs of Purchase Surveys ............................................................18
Protocol for Making Purchases .....................................................19
PUrchase Survey Schedules ...........................................................19
Timing of Purchase Surveys ..........................................................19
Number of Purchase Attempts .......................................................20
Data Collection ..............................................................................20
Additional Notes ............................................................................21
Safety Issues ......................................................~ ...........................21
Insurance and Liability Issues .......................................................22
Using Minors To Conduct Purchase Surveys of
Retail Alcohol Outlets .........................................................................22
Legal Considerations .....................................................................22
Issues of Entrapment .....................................................................23
Informed Consent ..........................................................................23
Unconsummated Sales ...................................................................24
Purchase Survey Combined With Enforcement ............................ 24
Sample Purchase Survey Protocol .......................................................25
Responsibilities of Escorts ............................................................25
Responsibilities of Buyers .............................................................28
Recording Data ..............................................................................28
Debriefing ......................................................................................29
Postsurvey Activities ..............: ......................................................29
Chapter 3: Sampling Alcohol Outlets for an Alcohol Purchase Survey .... 33
Survey All Outlets ................................................................................33
Survey a Representative Sample of Outlets .........................................33
Response Rates ....................................................................................37 (') '~';
Relevant Research ......................................................................................39 ~_::,
Resource Materials .....................................................................................45 ....... ~"~
References 51
Appendix 1 .................................................................................................53
Alcohol Outlet Purchase Survey ..........................................................53
Appendix 2 .................................................................................................55
Youth Recruitment Letter .....................................................................56
Buyer Application Form ......................................................................57
Consent Forms .....................................................................................59
Appendix 3 .................................................................................................61
Data Collection Form ...........................................................................62
Data Collection Form Instructions .......................................................66
l ntroduction
People who care about youth are aware of the serious problems caused by
underage drinking. They realize that:
· Alcohol is the drug most commonly used by youth--more than
tobacco and far more than marijuana or any other illicit drug.
· Alcohol is one of the most common contributors to injury, death, and
criminal behavior among youth.
· Underage alcohol use can have immediate and potentially tragic
consequences, as well as long-range harmful consequences, such
as increased risk for chronic alcohol addiction.
There is no doubt that underage alcohol use is an extremely serious
problem. But there are many effective strategies for reducing the problem.
Strategies that limit access to alcohol by youth are some of the most
c~ ./ powerful and well-documented approaches to reducing underage drinking
~. , ./~ and related problems.
'------I ~ ' The purpose of this guide is to promote the use of an important tool for
i -!--I c-~ monitoring underage access to alcohol--the purchase survey. These
7;~-.- . - . surveys involve sending young adults who appear underage (or minors
L?~.-- . ~1 ~ ':.:- under appropriate adult and police supervision) into stores to purchase
~ . ~- alcohol. Communities and local groups can carry out purchase surveys of
~:-. retail alcohol sales outlets to find out how easily available alcohol is to
young people and to identify who is selling alcohol to youth. Such surveys
provide extremely valuable information that can be used in addressing the
problems ofunderage alcohol purchase and underage drinking.
This guide gives some of the background and rationale for these surveys as
well as practical, step-by-step instructions for carrying out alcohol purchase
surveys. The guide also shows how the information from the survey can be
used to strengthen community awareness, promote better policies, and
improve merchant compliance with the law.
Safe, efficient, and valid alcohol purchase surveys can be carried out in
almost any community. This guide will show how.
2 Guide to Conducting Alcohol Purchase Surveys ~_;-_ (').
_.-:
How Do Kids Get Alcohol?
Underage ~ers c~ obm~ alcohol ~ many ~fferent ways--~ey c~
steal it or get it ~om ~ei~ ~en~ or ~e~ parent. In fact, ~ ~e
National $une~s of ~oun~ ~ople frequen~y quite creative in ~eir schemes to get acc~s to alcohol. All too
consisten~ show that alcohol i$ ~e oRen, however, ~ey s~ply wa~ ~to a store ~d buy it--no questions
~ked, no identification requested, no problems encountered. Cu~ing off
d~ of choice among ~oun~ people. B~ ~is ~e of e~y access is ~e most ~po~nt step towed preventing
the 12th grade, more than 80 percent of ~denge ~ng in most counties.
adolescenB have experimented ~ith
alcohol, more than ~0 percent repod Su~eys c~ed out in v~io~ areas ~ound ~e co~t~ have fo~d that
drinking ~ithin the previous month, and yOU~ were able to buy alcohol in be~een 50 percent and 97 percent of
more than 30 percent repo~ consumina stores, bars, and res~an~ where attempB were made.
five or more drinks in a ro~ at least
Studies indicate that enforcement of~derage sales laws is lax in many
once in the previous 2 weeks (Johnston, co~ities. Police cite a nmber of reasons for not enforcing underage
O'Malle~, ~ Bachman, 1~98}. sales laws; most impo~antly, they perceive a lack of public suppo~ for
such activities. This is unfo~nate because research shows that
A recent study indicates that alcohol is
enforcement can significantly reduce alcohol sales to mino~.
responsible for 69 percent of all dru~-
related hospital s~ among i0- to 19-
~ear-olds. In contrast, tobacco accounts
for 22 percent and other dmgs for 9 Why Conduct Alcohol Purchase Surveys?
~ercent of these hospilal stays. Overall, Illegal s~les to mino~s can ~e ~reve.te~. A variely ~[ strategies h~e
shown to ~e ~e~ c~cti~c, ~ut most co~unitics need ~alid in~o~atie.
87 percent of yea~s ~ life I~t be~een
e~der to ~a~e ~e ~est use o[ these strategies and to menito~ their
lhe ages of 10 and 19 are alcohol related AlCOhOl ~u~ch~s~ su~eyS can hel~ pro~ide ~is in[o~atie.. in a~ditien,
(Xie, Rehm, Single, & Robson, 1996). the ~ata o~tained [rom p~chase su~eys c~ ~ use~ to increas~
[~om the public and ~om ~u~lic e~cials ~or ~elicy changes and ~o~
In 1996, mere than 6,~00 young people ~nerous allocation ~[ resources. This ~rocess is ~e~icte~ in ~e
be~een 15 and 20 years old died in circula~ and in~ol~es ~ v~rie~ e~se~me.~ o~the co~nity.
traffic crashes. Of lhese tatalities, 2,315
(3~ percent) were alcohol relaled. ~ore
How Do You Conduct Purchase Surveys?
years old who were killed in lra~c
In order to ca~ out a purchase su~ey, a representative sample of alcohol
crashes in 1996 had been drinking outlets iS sdected. At each outlet in th¢ sample, a buy¢r who appca~s to
(National Highway Tra~c Safety underage attempts to ~urchase alcohol without ~rescnting a~e identification
Administration [NHTSA], 1998). (~). If the outlet sells alcohol to the buyer, it is considered noncompliant.
the outlet r¢~ses to sell to ~e buyer, it is considered in compliance. DeVils
of this ~roccd~e v~, but ~e basic ~ocess is similar in all alcohol pu~chase
Guide to Conducting Alcohol Purchase Surveys 3
surveys. A flowchart of the tasks involved in conducting an alcohol outlet Underage Purchase of Alcohol
purchase survey is presented in appendix 1.
Purchase surveys conducted In medium
Purchase surveys are extremely useful, and they can be conducted
and small cities in Minnesota and
practically, efficiently, and ~exibly. This guide explains how to plan and
carry out surveys under a variety of circumstances. It also provides sample Wisconsin have found youth able to
protocols and materials that can be adapted for use in communities across purchase alcohol In about half of the
the country. attempts in both on- and off-premises
outlets (Forstar et al., t994; Forster,
DATA Murray, Wolfson, & Wagenaar, 1995).
FROM
PURCHASE ~
SURVEYS Another study surveyed communities in
New York State and Washington, DC.
ALLOCATION COMMUNITY Fully 97 percent of the Washington, DC,
OF RESOURCES SUPPORT
outlets sold to youth. Sales rates in New
~ ~/~ York varied from 44 percent to 80
percent (Preusser & Williams, 1992).
OFFICIAL
POLICY SUPPORT
CHANGE
Figure 1. Survey Data and Community Process
-_,; .... 1
· -~,-
4 Guide to Conducting Alcohol Purchase Surveys
.,
Five Reasons for Conducting
Alcohol Purchase Surveys
Purchase surveys indicate who is selling alcohol to minors and how often.
· This lets a community know how large the problem ofunderage sales is
and among which outlets. This information can be very useful in allocating
scarce enforcement and prevention resources.
The results of surveys can be used to help raise community awareness and
· build support for efforts to reduce sales to minors. For example, some
communities have called press conferences in which the buyers pose with
all the beer they have managed to purchase from local stores. Such events
can bring attention to the problem of alcohol sales to minors and make it
easier for policymakers, merchants, and concemed citizens to act.
motivate those with good policies and sales practices to continue them and
motivate those with poor policies and practices to change them.
Purchase surveys can be an important part of enforcement. Some
· communities choose to issue citations to outlets who sell to minors during
the surveys. Other communities use the information from the surveys to
help target later enforcement efforts. In either case, local police or Alcohol
Beverage Control (ABC) authorities must always be involved when
enforcement efforts are planned as part of a purchase survey.
Purchase surveys can be used to measure the impact of prevention
. strategies. A series of surveys carded out over time can indicate whether
prevention efforts are having an effect on sales to minors. This information
can help communities decide whether to continue or discontinue particular
policies or programs and can indicate how to modify prevention strategies
to make them more effective.
i
Beverage Price Comparison in Iowa City
It is not uncommon for Iowa City bars geared towards college students
to offer a pint of beer for 50 cents. This works out to approximately $4.00
per gallon.
Convenience store liquor prices run between .04 and .05 cents per ounce,
equaling beer prices of $5.12 to $6.40 per gallon.
As a point of comparison consider the following costs per gallon of other
beverages for sale at convenience stores:
Diet Snapple; 16 oz. for $1.29 = 10.32 per gallon.
Lipton Iced Tea; 16 oz. for $1.19 = 9.52 per gallon.
Gatorade; 20 oz. for $1.59 = 10.17 per gallon.
Evian Water; 9 oz. for $1.49 = 21.19 per gallon.