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A Public Health Enforcement Initiative to Combat Underage Drinking Using Emergency Medical Services Call Data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2012

Daniel L. Lemkin ,
Michael C. Bond ,
Donald W. Alves  and
Richard A. Bissell
Daniel L. Lemkin
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland USA
Michael C. Bond*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland USA
Donald W. Alves
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Special Operations, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland USA
Richard A. Bissell
Affiliation:
Center for Emergency Education and Disaster Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland USA
*
Correspondence: Michael C. Bond, MD, FACEP, FAAEM Department of Emergency Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine 110 S. Paca Street, Sixth Floor, Suite 200 Baltimore, Maryland USA E-mail mbond007@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine whether Emergency Medical Services (EMS) records can identify bars that serve a disproportionate number of minors, and if government officials will use this data to direct underage drinker enforcement efforts.

Methods

Emergency Medical Services call logs to all bars in the study area were cross-referenced with a local hospital's records. The records of patients with alcohol-related complaints were analyzed. Outlier bars were identified, and presented to government officials who completed a survey to assess if this information would prompt new enforcement efforts.

Results

Emergency Medical Services responded to 149 establishments during the study period. Eighty-four responses were distributed across six bars, and 78 were matched with the hospital's records. Fifty-one patients, 18 (35%) of whom were underage, were treated for alcohol intoxication, with 46% of the cases originating from four bars. Government officials found the information useful, and planned to initiate new operations based on the information.

Conclusions

Alcohol consumption by minors can lead to life-long abuse, with high personal, financial, and societal costs. Emergency Medical Services response data and hospital records can be used to identify bars that allow underage drinking, which is useful in directing law enforcement efforts.

Lemkin DL, Bond MC, Alves DW, Bissell RA. A public health enforcement initiative to combat underage drinking using emergency medical services call data. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(2):1-5.

Keywords

Emergency Medical ServicesEMSenforcementunderage drinking
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 167 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

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