Description of Strategy
Community Trials Intervention to Reduce High-Risk Drinking, also called Community Prevention Trials, is a multi-component, community-based program developed to alter the alcohol use patterns and related problems of people of all ages. The program incorporates a set of environmental interventions that assist communities in (1) using zoning and municipal regulations to restrict alcohol access through alcohol outlet density control; (2) enhancing responsible beverage service by training, testing, and assisting beverage servers and retailers in the development of policies and procedures to reduce intoxication and driving after drinking; (3) increasing law enforcement and sobriety checkpoints to raise actual and perceived risk of arrest for driving after drinking; (4) reducing youth access to alcohol by training alcohol retailers to avoid selling to minors and those who provide alcohol to minors; and (5) forming the coalitions needed to implement and support the interventions that address each of these prevention components. The program aims to help communities reduce alcohol-related accidents and incidents of violence and the injuries that result from them. The program typically is implemented over several years, gradually phasing in various environmental strategies; however, the period of implementation may vary depending on local conditions and goals (National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, 2012).
Also known as...
Community trails to reduce high-risk drinking
Discussion of Effectiveness
Alcohol
Evidence suggests implementation of the Community Prevention Trials program can significantly reduce alcohol-related behaviors and harms (National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, 2012). A study evaluating a similar program implemented on college campuses also found the program to significantly reduce high-risk drinking and its related consequences among college students (Wolfson et al., 2012).