What you don’t know WILL hurt you…

Get the Facts about Alcohol!

Most of us are aware that drinking and driving and alcohol abuse are problems that occur throughout the nation, but do we really know what is happening in our own homes and neighborhoods? Over the past year, SMART Utah County has conducted several focus groups and county wide surveys; the following facts were taken from their collection of significant data. What is happening here and now in Utah County will shock you!

Alcohol-related findings in Utah County:

• On average, South County off-premise consumption stores are open for one hour longer than Central County stores, and two hours longer than Northern Stores. South County has had higher rates of ARMVC’s (alcohol related motor vehicle crashes).
• More ARMVC’s occur between 8:00 PM and 1:00 AM than any other time. This is the approximate time most of the off-premise outlets close.
• The top four cities with the highest alcohol sales to youth are South County cities. (42.1% of the sales in the South County alone were made by individuals under the age of 21). The chart below shows which cities have the most alcohol sales, per capita, to our underage buyers.
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• The most common source for underage drinkers to acquire alcohol is peers, whether older or the same age. Peer social sources include friends working at retail stores and friends over 21 years old willing to purchase alcohol from retail outlets for underage drinkers.
• In 84% of on-premise consumption locations, minors were allowed into the building, but the establishment had a policy of checking ID’s before serving alcohol.
• There are 3 cities in our county that allow 16- year-olds and up to make sales of alcohol. All 3 cities, Spanish Fork, Payson and Santaquin are in the south end of the county. All other cities require the cashier making the sales of alcohol to be at least 18 years old.
• 97% (or 29 out of 30) of the off-site consumption sites examined were offering sale prices on beer or wine. Sale prices of alcohol are more common in South County. ARMVC’s are higher in the South (per capita rates).
• 5 out of 497 billboards (1%) included alcohol advertising. These billboards appear in cities where more ARMVCs occur. One billboard is located in Salem, two in Provo, one in American Fork, and one in Saratoga Springs.
• Buses cease to operate somewhere between 7:00 and 11:00 pm with very limited routes after 7:00. There is a rapid increase in Alcohol related crashes between 7:00 and 11:00 pm. There are significant barriers in terms of public transportation for intoxicated residents needing a ride home.
• Crash data provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety showed that up to 80% of crashes involved male drivers, even thought males have lower perceived risk of driving drunk.
• About 33,000 residents 18 and older drank alcohol in the past year. Of these individuals, about 1,650 had previously driven a car while under the influence of alcohol and about 4,600 had previously ridden with a driver who was drunk or high on drugs.
• Court filings – In 2007, law enforcement filed 76 alcohol sales to minors and adults buying for minors infractions – 43% were found guilty and 34% were dismissed. There were 702 drinking and driving court filings, 63% were found guilty and 13% dismissed. Only 12 public intoxication charges were filed, with 75% found guilty and 8% dismissed. Sales to minors and DUI’s are the least effectively prosecuted of the alcohol laws examined.

Click here for more facts and information regarding alcohol related motor vehicle crashes in Utah County.