The main idea behind alcohol and tobacco laws is safety—safety for the community and safety for the many young adults growing up in cities across America. The gatekeepers who are meant to limit access to these age-restricted products—parents, law enforcement, educators, and business owners—can leave a lasting negative impact on a community if alcohol, tobacco, and vapor product compliance is not a priority.
All of these groups must work together to protect young adults from health issues, violence and crime, and dependency on illicit substances.
According to the CDC, youths who consume alcohol regularly are personally at risk for hindered mental development, addiction, legal problems, and even death. As 11% of high schoolers identify themselves as “binge drinkers,” and 5% admit to driving while under the influence, it’s clear that alcohol consumption by minors is a huge problem for our nation’s future generations and our communities.
Unfortunately, it’s not only alcohol that causes issues for minors. Vapes, e-cigarettes, and other vapor products that include nicotine also create serious concerns. With many fruity flavors enticing younger adults to try these products, it’s important to ensure business owners are compliant with local laws.
In this blog post, we’ll outline some of the major problems that come from underage drinking and tobacco product usage. We’ll also highlight strategies communities can implement to safeguard their youth, including partnering with Stinger Compliance.
Problems that Arise from Alcohol Consumption by Minors
Mental Development
During the teen years, the parts of the brain involved in self-control, emotions, and high-level thinking are still developing. When alcohol is consumed—especially in large quantities—this development becomes stunted.
Minors who consume alcohol regularly are also more prone to addiction, resulting in higher rates of school absences and acts of violence against peers.
Reducing the impact on a minor’s mental development is a major benefit of strong alcohol and tobacco compliance within a community.
Public Safety Issues
As mentioned above, 5% of American high schoolers admit to driving under the influence, and 14% admit to riding in a car with someone who has consumed alcohol. These actions can create serious dangers within a community if left unchecked.
Driving under the influence can result in costly legal consequences and long-term personal ramifications. More importantly, it puts passengers, pedestrians, and community members at risk of injury or death.
Small Businesses
In communities with high levels of underage drinking, small businesses can find themselves at risk of losing their alcohol licenses or facing legal action against their employees if compliance is not part of their policies.
Business owners may also become personally vulnerable in cases of gross negligence.
Businesses must understand their local laws and implement practices that ensure compliance at all times. By checking IDs and spotting fake IDs, businesses can prevent minors from purchasing alcohol and keep their communities safe.
Be sure to read our blog post for more information on protecting your business: 6 Ways to Protect Your Alcohol License from Suspension.
Loss of Life
In addition to the many health and mental disorders that can arise from alcohol consumption, the worst-case scenario is the loss of life caused by binge drinking among teenagers and young adults.
In the United States, approximately 10,000 people die each year as a result of alcohol-impaired driving. According to the CDC, 29% of drivers ages 15–20 who were killed in car accidents had been drinking alcohol.
These tragic losses are preventable. Families, law enforcement, business owners, educators, and health officials all have a role to play in preventing alcohol-related deaths among teens.
Problems that Arise from Tobacco Use by Minors
Brain Development
Like alcohol, tobacco negatively affects the developing brains of minors. Nicotine has been proven to harm brain development in young adults, particularly affecting attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
The CDC states that nicotine is found in 99% of the e-cigarettes most popular among teenagers and adolescents.
Protecting the development of future generations means reducing minors’ ability to purchase tobacco products and educating them about the dangers associated with nicotine use.
Health Issues
Tobacco products can cause numerous health problems, including lung disease, cardiovascular damage, and more.
In 2020, the CDC reported an outbreak of lung injury associated with vaping and e-cigarettes that caused 2,807 hospitalizations and 68 deaths.
Minors are more likely to become addicted to nicotine than adults. When access to nicotine is suddenly removed, withdrawal symptoms may occur, including:
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Anxiety or depression
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Cravings for nicotine
Research also suggests tobacco use may contribute to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
In addition to tobacco and vaping products, minors are also purchasing substances like Delta-8, which has psychoactive effects. This emerging issue will be explored further in future blog posts.
Solutions to Keeping Minors Healthy and Communities Safe
So what is the solution? How can communities protect future generations?
The first line of defense against underage alcohol and tobacco consumption is the family. Education about the dangers of these products often begins at home.
Beyond the home, communities can implement several strategies to limit teen access to these substances.
DUI Checkpoints and Hot Spot Policing
Law enforcement agencies can establish DUI checkpoints—also known as sobriety checkpoints—to check drivers for signs of impaired driving.
In addition, hot spot policing in areas populated by young adults or teenagers can help reduce access to age-restricted products and encourage businesses to maintain compliance.
Awareness Campaigns and School Policies
Educators can help protect students by creating awareness campaigns that highlight the dangers of alcohol and tobacco use.
These campaigns often include videos, visual materials, and informational resources for families to continue discussions at home.
However, research from Emory University suggests that fear-based campaigns and information-only approaches may not be effective in preventing underage use.
Zero tolerance policies may also discourage students from reporting dangerous behaviors because they fear harsh punishment for their peers.
For this reason, educators and administrators must collaborate with community members to develop thoughtful strategies that truly resonate with young people.
Safety Incentive Programs
Many businesses implement safety incentive programs that reward employees for following compliance policies.
For example, bartenders or clerks who consistently check IDs could receive rewards such as gift cards, additional time off, or other workplace perks.
These programs can be even more effective when paired with third-party compliance checks. Businesses can hire vendors to perform compliance checks, and if employees follow the rules, they receive recognition and rewards.
Partner with Stinger Compliance
Partnering with Stinger Compliance helps keep communities safe while providing valuable insights to business owners. Their services reduce risk by ensuring local businesses follow regulations for age-restricted products such as alcohol and tobacco.
Option #1 – Businesses Can Book a Sting
Businesses can schedule compliance checks to ensure employees are verifying IDs properly and preventing minors from purchasing restricted products.
These anonymous checks provide a risk-free way to evaluate compliance and quickly identify potential risks.
Business owners can then take action by retraining staff or improving policies when necessary.
Option #2 – Community Members Can Become a Stinger
Adults over the age of 21 can apply to become Stingers with Stinger Compliance.
Stingers visit participating businesses, evaluate compliance with alcohol and tobacco laws, and complete a short survey based on their experience.
The application process takes only a few minutes, and once approved, Stingers can schedule assignments in their area and get paid within 24 hours after completing them.
Apply today to become a Stinger and help support compliance in your community.
No matter your role in your community, everyone has a part to play in protecting neighbors from the dangers associated with alcohol and tobacco misuse.
By working together, we can make a meaningful difference for today’s communities and for future generations.
