Alcohol prevention policy

Drinking alcohol has major effects on the health of both youth and adults and can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 500 people in the United States die every day from drinking. This is a 29 percent increase over the past four years. In Santa Clara County, alcohol contributes to more than 8,500 emergency department visits each year. 

According to the CDC, drinking alcohol and binge drinking harms health both immediately and long-term. Binge drinking is These health harms include:

• Injuries, including motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns
• Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence
• Alcohol poisoning
• Miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
• Social problems, including family problems, problems with the law
• High blood pressure, heart disease, and liver disease
• Cancer
• Learning and memory problems
• Depression
• Alcohol dependence

Underage drinking risks

Alcohol use has serious risks, especially for young people:

• In 2019, 1 in 4 car fatalities involving youth under the age of 21 in California were due to alcohol-impaired driving
• Alcohol use disorder is 3 times higher for adults who started drinking before the age of 15
• Brain development continues until mid-20s. Early alcohol use can impact brain function and structure

Youth drink alcohol less frequently than adults, but drink more per occasion:

• Youth have 4 to 5 drinks per occasion whereas adults have 2 to 3 drinks
• 90 percent of alcoholic beverages consumed by youth are consumed while binge drinking

Alcohol is accessible across Santa Clara County

Alcoholic drinks, such as beer, wine, and liquor, can be purchased from a wide variety of retailers across Santa Clara County. There are more than 4,200 active alcohol licenses issued to Santa Clara County businesses. These are issued by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. See the locations of alcohol retail licenses near where you live, work, and play.

Alcohol retail density

Studies have found that areas with a higher alcohol retail density are related with increased underage drinking. The presence of greater numbers of alcohol outlets contributes to perceptions among youth. This includes the perception that alcohol consumption is normal and acceptable behavior. 

Policy solutions

Public policy plays a key role in preventing underage alcohol use. The Substance Use Prevention Policy Program collaborates with the Behavioral Health Services Department. They address underage alcohol use by working with community leaders to apply the following strategies:

• Reducing the oversaturation of alcohol retailers
• Reducing the number of alcohol retailers near spaces intended for or used by youth including parks, youth centers and schools
• Working with enforcement agencies to ensure alcohol retailers are not selling alcohol to minors
• Implementing community education and outreach to raise awareness of how alcohol can harm health

To learn more about the County’s efforts to address alcohol consumption, please email the program at [email protected].

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Healthy Communities Branch

1775 Story Road
Suite 120
San Jose, CA 95122
United States

Phone: (408) 793-2700  Fax: (408) 251-4014