Low Cost/No Cost Solutions 

• Educate the community on healthy behavior change and best practices as it relates to alcohol consumption and storage. 
• Educate and train merchants on the importance of checking ID and not selling to minors 
• Community educational campaigns around alcohol, equity, awareness and resource availability.

 Innovative ideas 

• Work with county policy makers to regulate and enforce alcohol sales to individuals under 21 to help reduce the sale to minors (if any) 
• Work with local businesses to create a Good Neighbor Business Network that will allow businesses to opt in and utilize best practices as it pertains to alcohol sales.

Additional Research 

• Work with NC DHHS and local data managers to conduct an ongoing analysis on local alcohol outlet density and determine if the density is greater than the demands of the population and/or communities of color. 
• Is there an abundance of alcohol outlets in communities of color? 
• Are there a high number of off-premise outlets within 5 miles (or less) of middle and high schools? 
• Look into the Good Neighbor Business Network initiative from Durham County and replicate their successful efforts

Underage drinking and drug use is not a rite of passage. Early use of substances hurts our young people and hurts our community. By working together, we can help youth succeed and reach their true potential.