Marathon County Minimum Legal Drinking Age Compliance Checks

Project Description Narrative:

Substance misuse was identified as a community health priority in the 2022-2026 Marathon County community health improvement plan (CHIP). Marathon County utilized the results-based accountability framework to develop the 2022-2026 CHIP, with the number-one strategy identified implementing Marathon County minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) compliance checks for alcohol service points and retailers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promotes enforcing “laws that prohibit alcohol sales to minors” as a proven strategy to reduce underage drinking. Wisconsin does not provide any state funding for alcohol age compliance checks to reduce youth access to alcohol; meanwhile, Wisconsin’s rate of underage drinking is perennially above the national average. In addition, the American Cancer Society reports that “Drinking alcohol can increase a person’s risk for at least seven types of cancer and Wisconsin is above the national average of cases for three of them, including mouth and throat, larynx, and esophagus cancer.”

Implementing MLDA compliance checks reduces how teens can access alcohol in Marathon County. MLDA compliance checks are one piece of Marathon County Health Department’s vision of a comprehensive alcohol prevention program.

Community partners: Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Ninjas for Health, Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project