Border Binge-Drinking Reduction Program
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The Border Binge-Drinking Reduction Program provides a process for changing the social and community norms associated with underage and binge drinking that has proven effective at reducing alcohol-related trauma caused by young American's binge drinking across the U.S.-Mexican border. The program is a binational effort to curb irresponsible drinking practices, employing environmental management techniques including (1) regular surveys of youths returning from a night of drinking with anonymous blood alcohol concentration (BAC) breath tests; (2) strong media advocacy, using information from the surveys to characterize the problem, mobilize the community to action, and reframe the issue from an accepted norm to a health and safety issue for the binational community; (3) formation of the Binational Policy Council, which recommends policy changes on both sides of the border and provides spokespeople for the media advocacy and community organizing components; (4) increased enforcement of existing laws and policies, such as ID checks at border crossings and in bars in Tijuana, Mexico; and (5) implementation of policies and practices that impact the environment where dangerous cross-border drinking occurs.
Goal / Mission
The goal of this program is to reduce public health and safety problems related to U.S. teen & binge drinking in Mexico.
Impact
With IPS leadership, there was a reduction in youth nighttime crashes by 45% and 37% fewer nighttime crossers with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher.
Results / Accomplishments
Implementation of the Border Project in the San Diego-Tijuana border region began in 1997. Significant project results were achieved by 1998 in the following outcome areas: number of arrests of Americans in Tijuana, Mexico, for alcohol-related violations; number of bars with a majority of American customers; number of nighttime alcohol-related crashes; number of youths crossing into Mexico to drink; and number of youths returning from Tijuana with high BACs (blood alcohol concentration). Specific outcomes include the following:
Analysis of 16- to 20-year-olds revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between the media coverage associated with the program and the ratio of "had been drinking" crashes to "had not been drinking" crashes, B = -0.002, p<0.04. This decline reflects a 45.3% reduction in the number of 16- to 20-year-old drivers who had been drinking and were involved in crashes (expressed as a multiple of drivers in the same age group who were not drinking and involved in crashes).
Using data collected between midnight and 4 a.m. from June 1997 to December 1999, analysis showed that the ratio of pedestrians with BACs of 0.08 declined by 29.0% during the survey, p = 0.004. During the same period, the number of underage drinking pedestrians declined by 39.8%, p = 0.001.
Analysis of 16- to 20-year-olds revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between the media coverage associated with the program and the ratio of "had been drinking" crashes to "had not been drinking" crashes, B = -0.002, p<0.04. This decline reflects a 45.3% reduction in the number of 16- to 20-year-old drivers who had been drinking and were involved in crashes (expressed as a multiple of drivers in the same age group who were not drinking and involved in crashes).
Using data collected between midnight and 4 a.m. from June 1997 to December 1999, analysis showed that the ratio of pedestrians with BACs of 0.08 declined by 29.0% during the survey, p = 0.004. During the same period, the number of underage drinking pedestrians declined by 39.8%, p = 0.001.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Institute for Public Stategies
Primary Contact
Institute for Public Strategies
2615 Camino del Rio South
Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92108
619-476-9100
info@publicstrategies.org
http://www.publicstrategies.org/
2615 Camino del Rio South
Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92108
619-476-9100
info@publicstrategies.org
http://www.publicstrategies.org/
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Prevention & Safety
Community / Crime & Crime Prevention
Health / Prevention & Safety
Community / Crime & Crime Prevention
Organization(s)
Institute for Public Stategies
Source
SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP)
Date of publication
Nov 2006
Date of implementation
1997
Location
Tijuana, Mexico
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Teens