0-0-1-3 Policy Provides Definition of "Moderate" Alcohol Consumption at Public Events

The numbers in the 0-0-1-3 policy represent:

0 alcoholic beverages for minors
0 driving under the influence of alcohol
1 alcoholic beverage per hour
3 alcoholic beverages per event

The policy was tested on U.S. Military bases. During the final three months of 2004, incidents involving alcohol at military bases declined, including driving violations, public drunkenness, domestic violence, sexual assault, thefts, and other infractions. The bases also reported 81 percent fewer cases of underage drinking and 45 percent fewer drunk-driving arrests.

Jim Harrington, chairperson of the Marquette County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, says that communities adopting the 0-0-1-3 policy can expect to see positive results when it comes to curbing public intoxication issues.

"What this means for municipalities is that if alcohol is served at a public community event, the event sponsors are encouraged to follow the program. If they follow these recommendations, it is more likely that people leaving the event will not be legally intoxicated," said Harrington. "To help monitor this we are providing organizers of public events special wristbands that have three tabs attached. When someone enters the alcohol service area at one of these events, they show their ID and get the wristband. Each time they purchase an alcoholic beverage, one tab will be taken."

Community resources for the policy also include alcohol sales training. For more information on 0-0-1-3 call Harrington at the Marquette County Health Department, 906-315-2614, or Sue Girard-Jackson at the Marquette County Sheriff, 906-225-8473.

Resources and Information:

0-0-1-3 Fact Sheet: This handy fact sheet briefly explains what the 0-0-1-3 program is and how it is intended to help communities handle the consumption of alcohol at public events
Marquette County Alcohol Environment Report - GLCYD 2006: This PDF details the county's alcohol environment and shows how other communities can do the analysis
Press Release on Powell Township's 0-0-1-3 Policy
Read the November 2006 Marquette Monthly article on Powell Township's Adoption of 0-0-1-3 Policy

ABOVE: From left, Jim Harrington, medical director of the Marquette County Health Department and coordinator of the Marquette County Coalition for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention (MC2), presents DJ Burns, Powell Township clerk, and Darlene Turner, Powell Township trustee, with a certificate acknowledging Powell Township's decision to adopt the 0-0-13 Policy to provide a definition for "moderate" alcohol consumption at community events.

RIGHT: Wristbands available to use with the 0-0-1-3 program help event organizers keep alcohol consumption at a moderate level. Event goers show ID to receive the wristband before they can purchase and consume alcohol.

Town Hall Meeting in April 2006

-- Safe Prom & Graduation Radio Clips available --

A town hall meeting to address underage drinking was held on April 3, 2006 at the Marquette Alger Regional Educational Services Agency. Over 75 parents, professionals, law enforcement officials, and community leaders attended to learn about the current environment and programs available to help address underage drinking and its effects.

This effort was prompted by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in response to recent research regarding adolescent brain development and negative effects underage alcohol use has on cognitive functioning, including learning. Research has recently indicated that "Alcohol-dependent teens showed impaired memory, altered perception of spatial relationships, and verbal skill deficiencies."

Great Lakes Center for Youth Development staff in cooperation with youth from Project WEAVE, Republic-Michigamme High School and Gwinn High school compiled information on local attitudes about alcohol and mapped the location of stores that sell alcohol. Information was then added to information from the State of Michigan Liquor Control Commission and GLCYD surveys of youth and their alcohol use patterns. A report was created to show attendees at the meeting what the alcohol environment is like for young people growing up in Marquette.

The information presented showed that while Marquette County has one liquor license per 399 people (compared to one liquor license per 623 people statewide), more than half of Marquette and Alger County youth say that they see adults drink alcohol one day per week or less.

Even so, Marquette and Alger County's youth alcohol use rate is cause for concern. According to the last Profiles of Student Life survey, 38% of youth surveyed had used alcohol in the past 30 days and 25% of the youth had gotten drunk once or more in the previous two weeks.

SAMHSA-sponsored teach-ins intended to begin to teach elementary school students about the dangers of underage alcohol use will be held throughout the month of April as part of Alcohol Awareness Month.

-- Safe Prom & Graduation Campaign - Radio Clips

Marquette:	clip 1,	clip 2,	clip 3,	& clip 4
Keweenaw:	clip 1,	clip 2,	clip 3,	& clip 4
Ironwood:	clip 1,	clip 2,	clip 3,	& clip 4