Alcohol Purchase & 'Shoulder Tap' Surveys: How-To Guide

Preparation | Alcohol Purchase Survey | Shoulder Tap Survey | Reporting

PREPARATION

Meet with enforcement officials to:

• Ask them what is happening regarding the reduction of alcohol sales to minors - are they conducting compliance checks (minor stings) or other local strategies
• Explain to them the Youth In Action project - APS/STS
• Outline the alcohol purchase and shoulder tap surveys you would like to conduct
• Explain why you need the help of local law enforcement
• Let them know you would like to conduct the surveys in the fall and again in the spring with the ultimate goal of participating in compliance checks with law enforcement based on the survey results
• Leave the meeting with an agreement to work together

Following your meeting with enforcement officials, focus on your next steps for your surveys:

• Get a list of all outlets that sell alcohol in your area.  You may call or write the state agency that regulates alcohol sales and request the list of alcohol outlets in your town or community.  Usually found in the state capital, you need to find the State Alcohol Beverage Control Commission or the Liquor Control Board

Figure out the geographic boundaries where your surveys will take place:

• Research your area for demographics or use your data checklist to help identify your area(s) of need (eg. the community with the most liquor stores, convenience stores only, etc.)
• With the help of law enforcement, look at the alcohol sales violations to determine problem areas
• Using the gathered information, determine whether you will survey the entire city or only one particular neighborhood or community.  If you're in a rural area, you might consider a countywide test.  Decide what makes the most sense for your team and what you can effectively and realistically accomplish
• Using the manual from the Pacific Institute (How to Conduct Alcohol Purchase Surveys), determine how to obtain an effective sample size and how to select a random sample so your work is scientifically-sound

ALCOHOL PURCHASE SURVEY

Identify team(s) to go out into the community and conduct your surveys.  An ideal team consists of one adult driver, one adult chaperone, one youthful looking 21 year old (decoy) and two youth YIA members (recorders)

Set the date(s) to conduct your surveys.  We suggest that you stagger the teams to go out every other weekend. It's probably a good idea to plan your activities Thursday through Sunday so you have more time to plan (versus using Friday and Saturday only)

Begin your project by organizing your team and having a well-planned schedule for visiting establishments

• With each survey, use the forms provided by MADD
• Keep good records of your overall progress

Conduct your survey:

• Your team of six drive up to a parking spot within walking distance of the establishment
• The decoy will only carry a one-dollar bill on them.  This will ensure that a buy cannot be made
• Your adult chaperone goes into the establishment first to check for safety
• After about 30 seconds to a minute (ensure that the adult chaperone has not come back out) the decoy will then follow and enter the establishment
• While they are in the store, the YIA members will be taking any notes on billboards, signage at the store, and any other pertinent information needed to be recorded for the survey
• Once in the store the adult chaperone will browse around and it is recommended that they go to the magazine rack and look at some magazines.  This way they can leave without being conspicuous.  Their main job is to look at the clerk for reporting reasons, ensure the safety of the decoy and look for any signage that talks about checking I.D. or selling to minors
• Upon entering the store, the decoy will walk directly to the beer section, grab a six-pack and walk directly to the counter.  Once at the counter they will allow the clerk to either 1) ask for I.D. or 2) ring up the beer to make a sale 
  • If 1) then tell the clerk that you don't have I.D. with you.  If they ask how old you are tell the truth.  If they let you slide without ID and proceed to make the sale, go to ##2 
  • If 2) then pull out the dollar and say, "I thought I had a $10, I don't have enough money to buy it now "sorry" and leave the store
• The adult chaperone will then wait a few more seconds and then follow the decoy back to the car as well
• When back in the car inform the YIA members of all that happened and keep good records of your overall progress
• Continue on to the next store

SHOULDER TAP SURVEY

Identify team(s) to go out into the community and conduct your surveys.  An ideal team consists of one adult driver, one adult chaperone (preferably a police officer volunteering his/her time), and two youth YIA members (one decoy and one recorder)

Set the date(s) to conduct your surveys.  We suggest that you stagger the teams to go out every other weekend. It's probably a good idea to plan your activities Thursday through Sunday so you have more time to plan (versus using Friday and Saturday only)

Begin your project by organizing your team and having a well-planned schedule for visiting establishments

• With each survey, use the forms provided by MADD
• Keep good records of your overall progress

Conducting your survey:

• Your team drives up to a parking spot within walking distance of the establishment (might be good to check out all the locations in advance to determine best places to park)
• The adult chaperone gets out and either stands by the phones or somewhere near the front door as if waiting for someone to make sure it is safe for the decoy to approach
• After about 30 seconds to a minute (adult chaperone could give a signal OR if adult chaperone does not come back to the car) the decoy will then follow and stand in front or to the side of the establishment
• While they are conducting the survey, the YIA member(s) in the car will be taking any notes on billboards, signage at the store, and any other pertinent information needed to be recorded for the survey
• Once the adult chaperone and youth are in position to begin the survey, the youth will begin to ask people as they enter if they will purchase alcohol for them.
• As long as people are saying "no", the youth may continue to stay in front of the store asking (You have to decide if you want to give flyers out to those that say "no" thanking them).
• Once a person says "yes", the decoy is to do one of the following (REMEMBER - The youth should either have one dollar or a flyer on them just in case a person does say "yes."  This way they never have to go through with a purchase and can act as if they didn't bring enough money or just give the fly and walk away): 
  • Reach into the pocket and pull out the dollar bill and act surprised that they didn't bring enough money (could say they thought they had a $10.00 bill, say "thanks anyway" and just walk away).  At this point it is best to go back to the car, the adult chaperone will follow and either wait until that person has left the property or move on to another establishment. OR 
  • Reach into the pocket and pull out the "No-no flyer", give to person and walk directly back to car with adult following.  This depends on how comfortable you feel with confronting a person with a flyer after saying "yes" to purchasing.  If a law enforcement officer is with you, then this should not be a problem
• The main job of the chaperone is to ensure the safety of the decoy
• Keep in mind that the number of people that say "yes" in relation to how many say "no" is not the most important data.  The most important thing to look at is the time it takes of a young person to get an adult to say "yes" from the time they enter the property
• After a few hours of conducting the survey at about 5-10 outlets, call it a night
  

REPORTING

Finalize your reporting forms and compile your results at the conclusion of the project

Send out letters and reports of the results of your project to the following:

• Outlets that were involved in project (commendation and reprimands)
• Law enforcement agencies that participated in project
• Local D.A., Mayor, Judges and possibly the governor

Organize, with the help of enforcement officials, your press conference or media event to call attention to the results of your work:

• Working with the enforcement officials, set a date for the event
• Invite all agencies that helped
• Work with enforcement officials to organize the press event speakers and event agenda
• Draft press releases releasing your results
• Contact the media and notify them of your event
• Prepare youth speakers, decoys and adult volunteers to speak about their experiences

Conduct the media event with all of the partners involved and thank all those who helped with the project.  Always end your press conference with a promise, "We will continue to do these projects to make sure that adults are not selling alcohol to or buying alcohol for young people!"

CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS!