Beverage Alcohol Sales to Minors

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the risk environment for operators who sell beverage alcohol and the use of false identification by minors. A series of personal injury lawsuits filed between 1987 and 2002, and data from a four-semester survey of 379 students were analyzed to provide an investigative summary for a particular period of time. Descriptive statistics identified the most frequent causes of personal injury, the types of injuries sustained, the outcome and average dollar amount awarded, the gender of the injured parties, the states where lawsuits were filed, and the attempts by those who are underage to purchase beverage alcohol using false identification. Operational methods to reduce the risk environment are presented.

Key Words:

• Underage drinking
• risk environment
• dram shop laws