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Tactics for Accommodating 18-20 Year Olds


Tuesday
May 15, 2007
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Two types of cities can attract larger numbers of 18-20 year olds: college towns and border cities. Canadian cities bordering the U.S. have a particular challenge in managing the civility of Americans under 21 that flock across the border during weekends and holidays, and in ensuring their safety when traveling back. College towns, similarly, have an influx each fall and must annually re-educate students about the community’s standards as they relate to underage drinking, fake ids and DUI’s.

Panelist
Rusty Worley
Executive Director
Urban Districts Alliance
Springfield, Missouri
Bio

Judith Veresuk
Executive Director
Business Improvement Association
Windsor, Ontario
Bio

Summary
What issues are fueled by young adults in hospitality zones?
  • Increased demand on downtown infrastructure, which may not have been originally designed to support late-night activity.
  • Decline in quality of life for residents.
  • Increase in bar capacity.

What are effective strategies to address the social needs and impacts of this age group?

  • Communication across Stakeholder Groups: Representatives can be designated from key groups to facilitate coordinated action and foster proactive partnerships.
  • Coordinate Professional Training: Participation in specialized trainings, such as responsible beverage service, can be made mandatory or encouraged through incentives to licensees.
  • Operate a Downtown Entertainment Unit: In addition to the regular police complement, this special unit operates on high-intensity nights and during late-night hours.
  • Promote Alternatives: By offering alcohol-free opportunities to socialize, a downtown shifts its focus from alcohol to sociability.
  • Develop Fines for Fake IDs: Issuing high fines (e.g. $500 in Springfield) for fraudulent ID use reinforces individual accountability and can discourage repeat offenders.
  • Develop Fines for Anti-social Behavior: Windsor issues a fine for patrons engaging in anti-social or destructive behaviors, which is used to contribute to a downtown safety improvement fund for clean and safe initiatives.
  • Sobriety Checkpoints: Windsor issues 12 hour suspensions for drivers caught with a 0.5 BAC (Ontario legal limit is 0.8 BAC).
  • Key Tactics:
    a) Establish hospitality best practices
    b) Adopt drink special ordinances
    c) Draft Good Neighbor handbook
    d) Collect & review Last Drink Data

How can you measure effectiveness of strategies employed?

  • Monitor the number of DWIs in the region and fines issued for fake IDs and anti-social behavior over a period of several years to gage whether incidents are increasing, decreasing or have remained stable.
  • Track the number of trained employees.
  • Monitor number of assault complaints.
  • The value of successful collaborative partnerships cannot be quantified, yet they should be addressed as a significant factor in the effectiveness of given strategies.

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