SOCIAL NORMS SURVEY

UNDERAGE DRINKING SURVEY RESULTS 2009

Total Respondents—
198 high school seniors
368 parents (80 High School; 288 Middle School)
208 8th graders (included only in some calculations)
774 total

Question 2: “How easy or difficult is it for underage youth to obtain alcohol from the following people/places in your community?”

Older Siblings--50% (283 out of 566) said “easy/very easy”
(132 of 198 Srs—67%; 151 of 368 Parents—41%)

Parents--15% (85 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(32 of 198 Srs---16%; 53 of 368 Parents---14%)

Friends---59% (333 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(152 of 198 Srs---77%; 181 of 368 Parents---49%)

Adult Strangers---22% (122 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(47 of 198 Srs---24%; 75 of 368 Parents---20%)

Bar/Restaurant-- 7% (40 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(16 of 198 Srs--- 8%; 24 of 368 Parents--- 6.5%)

Liquor Store-- 8% (44 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(19 0f 198 Srs---10%; 25 of 368 Parents--- 7%)

Question 3: “How easy or difficult do you think it would be for underage youth to get alcohol from home without their parents knowing it?”

BHS Seniors: Very Easy 46=23%, Easy 102=51%, Difficult 37=18%, Very Difficult 7=3%
Parents: Very Easy 47=13%, Easy 175=48%, Difficult 81=22%, Very Difficult 61=17%
MSMS 8th Graders: Very Easy 54=26%, Easy 79=38%, Difficult 58=28%, Very Difficult 16=8%

Question 4: “How often do you think parents in your community provide alcohol at parties their children host?”

22% of high school seniors (43/198) said “often/very often.”

Question 5: “How serious a problem is alcohol consumption by underage youth (14-20 years old) at unsupervised gatherings in your community?”

BHS Seniors: Very Serious 28=14%, Serious86=43%, Not Serious 59=29%, Uncertain 23=11%
Parents: Very Serious 60=16%, Serious 160=44%, Not Serious 51=14%, Uncertain 88=24%
MSMS 8th Graders: Very Serious 29=14%, Serious 61=29%, Not Serious 59=29%, Uncertain 48=23%

Question 6: “How effective is your community at enforcing laws against drinking and driving?” (BHS Seniors only)

Very effective Effective Ineffective Very ineffective
94 (17%) 354 (63%) 83 (15%) 13 (2%)

Question 7: “How effective is your community at enforcing laws against adults buying alcohol for minors?”

BHS Seniors: Very Effective 19=9%, Effective 88=43%, Ineffective 77=38%, Very Ineffective 11=5%
Parents: Very Effective 75=20%, Effective 205=56%, Ineffective 60=16%, Very Ineffective 4=1%
MSMS 8th Graders: Very Effective 26=13%, Effective 91=44%, Ineffective 79=38%, Very Ineffective 9=4%

Question #9: “How effective is your community at enforcing policies pertaining to student alcohol use?

BHS Seniors: Very Effective 41=20%, Effective 90=45%, Ineffective 50=25%, Very Ineffective 13=6%
Parents: Very Effective 78=21%, Effective 218=60%, Ineffective 46=13%, Very Ineffective 4=1%
MSMS 8th Graders: Very Effective 44=21%, Effective 119=57%, Ineffective 31=15%, Very Ineffective8=4%


Question 10: Who should Burlington penalize for underage drinking?
Y= Youth only, A=Adult providing alcohol only, B=both underage drinker and the adult?

BHS Seniors: Y 30=15%, A 17=8%, B 127=63%
Parents: Y 25=7%, A 34=9%, B 240=66%
MSMS 8th Graders: Y 33=16%, A 25=12%, B 131=63%

Question #11A: Is it acceptable to get DRUNK at……

Graduation Parties?
BHS Seniors: No 99=49%, Yes 96=48%
Parents: No 327=89%, Yes 17=5%
MSMS 8th Graders: No 118=57%, Yes 88=42%

Sporting Events?
BHS Seniors: No 84=42%, Yes 110=54%
Parents: No 329=90%, Yes 14=4%
MSMS 8th Graders: No 53=26%, Yes 151=73%


Question #11C: Is it acceptable for underage youth to drink at……

Graduation Parties?
BHS Seniors: No 125=62%, Yes 71=35%
Parents: No 330=90%, Yes 11=3%
MSMS 8th Graders: No 173=84%, Yes 30=14%


Sporting Events?
BHS Seniors: No 149=74%, Yes 46=23%
Parents: No 334=91%, Yes 5=1%
MSMS 8th Graders: No 177=86%, Yes 24=12%

PARENTS ONLY:
Question #14: If you knew of an underage drinking party in your community, would you…..

Confront Homeowner:
75=20%

Contact Police:
11=31%

Do Nothing 27=7%

Don’t Know 99=27%


PARENTS ONLY:
Question # 15: If a by-law is proposed in Burlington that holds homeowners responsible for underage drinking in their homes even if the homeowner is NOT present, would you support it?

Yes 142=39%
No 111=30%
Don’t Know 93=25%