AP Conference Series
This conference series has aided the development of a number of national and international initiatives, including national prevention policies (increase in minimum legal drinking age to 21; health warnings on alcoholic beverage containers; promotion of recommendations from a Surgeon General's workshop on impaired driving; articulation of Healthy People goals; decrease in blood alcohol limit for determination of driving while impaired; excise tax increase; international marketing practices) and local actions (enforcement of laws pertaining to underage alcohol sales and possession; responsible sales and service practices; controls on alcohol availability at sports stadiums and during public events; and encouragement of faith-based initiatives).
Research-policy-practice since 1981. From the outset the Alcohol Policy conference has been a forum for researchers, community practitioners, and public officials to meet and exchange findings, explore evidence-based solutions, and consider adoption of policies aimed at minimizing risks associated with alcohol use. When held in conjunction with state and regional sponsors, e.g., South Carolina (1981, 1984, 1987, and 1994), California (1985), New York (1986), Michigan (1988), and Oregon (1990), AP conferences have served to spark collaborative prevention campaigns. For a list of prior conferences, the more recent featuring Web sites, please click here.
Conference focus. AP14 will continue the series' tradition by focusing on the unique problems arising from illegal and high-risk alcohol consumption -- with a special emphasis on issues important to California and other Western states. Cooperating organizations will share their perspectives. Community practitioners, educators, civic and government leaders, and others concerned with young people will forge new partnerships in pursuit of prevention strategies. The agenda will focus on such measures as local monitoring of alcohol sales and enforcement fees, social host ordinances, place of last drink technologies, and community coalitions that marshal multiple stakeholders in policies to mitigate drinking-related health and safety risks.
Chronology Of Alcohol Policy Conference Series
(1981 – 2003)
13. March 13 – 15, 2003, Preventing Alcohol Problems Among Youth: Policy Approaches – Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston sponsored by Education Development Center, Inc., with cooperation from a variety of national, state, and regional organizations
12. June 2000, Alcohol and Crime: Research and Practice for Prevention – Renaissance Hotel, Washington DC – sponsored by National Crime Prevention Council
11. May 1998, Common Goals, Common Challenges: Creating Alcohol-Safe Communities through Alcohol Policies – Inter-Continental, Chicago – sponsored by American Medical Association
10. May 1996, Reducing Risk among Young Adults – Chelsea Delta, Toronto – sponsored by Addiction Research Foundation (now Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
9. January 1994 - Charleston Place, Charleston, South Carolina – sponsored by South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
8. March 1992, Alcohol Policy and Community Action: Agendas for Today – Sheraton Washington (now Marriott Wardman Park), Washington – sponsored by the National Association for Public Health Policy
7. March 1990 - Hilton, Portland, Oregon – sponsored by Oregon Department of Health Services
6. November 1988 - Ann Arbor, Michigan – sponsored by Michigan Department of Health Services
5. October 1987 - Omni (now Charleston Place) – sponsored by South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
4. November 1986, Hotel Pennsylvania, New York – sponsored by New York State Office of Alcoholism (now Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services)
3. October 1985, Alcoholic Beverage Control: Prescription for Prevention, Bahia Hotel, San Diego – sponsored by San Diego County HealthCare Agency (now Department of Health and Human Services) and University of California, San Diego
2. September 1984, Mills House, Charleston, South Carolina – sponsored by South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
1. September 1981, Mills House, Charleston, South Carolina – sponsored by South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Funding for this conference is made possible in part by grant no. 1 H13 SP13595-01 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.