Oklahoma - Project Under 21

Project Characteristics

Outstanding, collaborative effort

Non-traditional sources of funding

Program Areas

Youth Programs
Alcohol and Other Drugs

Type of Jurisdiction

State

Targeted Population

Law Enforcement, Retailers, Schools, Parents, and Youth under 21

Jurisdiction Size

3.5 million

Funding

US DOJ: $760,000

Contact

Cecilia Alsobrook
OK Safety Office
3223 N. Lincoln
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 523-1570

Digest Listing

OKLAHOMA
Project Under 21

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, Oklahoma ranks 14^th nationally in alcohol-related fatalities among drivers under 21 years old. One out of five, or 21 percent, of young drivers killed in car crashes are intoxicated. Studies show that those who drink by age 14 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependency than those who wait until after they turn age 20. Each additional year of delayed drinking reduces the probability of alcohol dependence by nearly 15 percent.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary goal of Project Under 21 is to motivate the change of community standards and public policies that accept or encourage people who are under the age of 21 to drink. The program is designed to:

Raise community awareness about the seriousness of the underage drinking problem; and
Deliver prevention messages to build a consensus among community leaders, public officials, health and prevention professionals, parents, educators, business leaders, and young people that under 21 drinking is illegal and unacceptable.

To accomplish this goal, Project Under 21 seeks to:

De-glamorize the promotion and use of alcohol by persons under 21, as well as teach them about the risks and consequences of underage drinking;
Empower young people to resist the pressure to drink from peers and media messages, and encourage them to take leadership roles in the project;
Increase enforcement of existing under 21 drinking laws and increase law enforcement participation through training; and
Educate policymakers and the community about issues and consequences related to underage drinking.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

Seven communities (Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Tahlequah, Lawton, Stillwater and Durant) were targeted and selected because of their proximity to college campuses and large under 21 populations. Currently, over ten law enforcement agencies in these communities, including police and sheriff’s departments, and campus police are under contract to provide overtime law enforcement for compliance checks, party dispersals, and third party transactions. Additional law enforcement agencies across the state that did not receive overtime grants have implemented Project Under 21 in their communities.
In November and December 2001, Project Under 21 staff developed the “Lights On For Life” campaign with the theme “Drive Safe and Sober.” This annual campaign draws attention to the number of people killed annually in alcohol related traffic crashes. A total of 104 schools participated in the 2001 Lights on For Life campaign throughout the state.
A Project Under 21 web site (www.under21.org) targets law enforcement, parents, teachers, officers and students across the state. This interactive site offers information on the risks and consequences of under 21 drinking and providing alcohol to those under 21. The site includes an order form/shopping cart, membership information, a Zero Tolerance video, media clips, training information and registrations, the Safe Homes Pledge and Directory, the Turn 21 First Pledge, information about Under 21 drinking laws and links to relevant sites. The site is currently receiving 1,500 to 2,000 visitors each month.
Project Under 21 established a statewide 24-hour tip line (1.866.STOP.U21) that Oklahomans can call to report under 21 drinking law violations, such as underage drinking at parties, third party transactions, and retail compliance. As tips are received, they are immediately distributed to local law enforcement and the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission.
To get communities involved in this effort, Project Under 21 started a program, Club U21, for students across the state. Students can create Club U21’s in their own schools. The mission of Club U21 is to eliminate under 21 drinking by encouraging students to take the lead in creating an alcohol free community for those under 21, and heighten public awareness of the legal consequences of under 21 drinking and providing alcohol to those under 21.

RESULTS

Law enforcement agencies have conducted over 1,000 compliance checks statewide. While it is still too early for comprehensive program evaluation, in Payne County (home of Oklahoma State University), 490 liquor law arrests were made in 2001. Of those arrested, 368 people were under the legal drinking age of 21, and 21 percent of the 449 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests in 2001 were minors.

NHTSA