Texas Kicks Off Safer Super Bowl

The people of Grand Prairie, Texas like the Super Bowl; but they don't like the alcohol-related problems that come with it. Over the years, members of Grand Prairie Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (GPMCA) noticed that the Super Bowl was causing super-sized problems in their community---especially related to underage drinking. So, rather than put up with it another year, they did something about it. GPMCA used the Super Bowl to launch a comprehensive Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) effort to train retail establishments and enforce alcohol laws in Grand Prairie.

RBS is a community-based approach to reducing risks associated with retail alcohol environments. RBS has three essential elements: merchant education, policy development, and partnerships with law enforcement. The goal of RBS is to reduce alcohol-related problems by training servers and sellers about state and local laws and by encouraging the development of management policies that promote lawful business practices. RBS also includes a law enforcement component, which holds merchants accountable if they violate state and local laws, such as selling to minors and intoxicated patrons. An effective RBS program results in safe and legal alcohol sales, clear policies by owners and managers about how business will be done, and regular compliance checks by police.

The connection between underage drinking and responsible beverage service seemed obvious to the Grand Prairie coalition. By 9th grade, almost 40 percent of local youth use alcohol, according to surveys there. "It's apparent to me as a trauma nurse that youth are drinking more," noted Janna Fagan, a local nurse and coalition member. "We have seen alcohol-related accidents and injuries increase over the years." T his increase is fueled in part by retail establishments violating the law. Lieutenant Scott Trim of the Grand Prairie Police Department explains, " In our last undercover operation, 20 percent of the targeted retailers sold alcoholic beverages to a minor. This is unacceptable to the Grand Prairie Police Department."

Using the Super Bowl as a launching pad, coalition members implemented a community-wide effort to promote and educate retailers about RBS. GPMCA members made personal visits to retail establishments where they distributed information packets about state and local laws, the importance of being a "responsible merchant," and discussed opportunities for local training. Following the Super Bowl, the coalition offered several local trainings to merchants as well as follow-up compliance checks by local law enforcement and had an editorial published in the Corsicana Daily Sun entitiled, “Keep Community Safe.” Next steps include working with local merchants and community leaders to develop policy options for addressing underage drinking hotspots, such as local concert venues.

Coalition members welcomed the chance to promote RBS. There has been a tremendous increase in the availability of alcohol in the community, following a new law that allows "off-premise" alcohol sales at grocery stores, gas stations and other locations. "The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) resources have been greatly stretched since the addition of many new outlets in Grand Prairie", notes Tana Travis, an agent of TABC. GPMCA will greatly enhance TABC strategies in reducing illegal sales of alcohol." That sentiment is echoed by police Lieutenant Trim, who says, " We are confident that the coalition's initiative on increasing RBS will result in the reduction of illegal sales to minors in Grand Prairie."

"What it really comes down to is that RBS keeps communities safe," says Laura Donahue, the coalition director. "Grand Prairie cares about its youth and is ready to take action on their behalf!"