STOP Act
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 109-422.
Official Summary
Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act or the STOP Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act with respect to underage drinking. Expresses the sense of Congress with regard to addressing the problem of underage drinking. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to formally establish and enhance the efforts of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking that began operating in 2004. Requires the Committee to guide policy and program development across the federal government with respect to underage drinking. Sets forth reporting requirements. Requires the Secretary to issue an annual report on each state's performance in preventing or reducing underage drinking. Requires the Secretary to develop a set of measures to be used in preparing the report on best practices and to consider including measures on whether a state: (1) has comprehensive anti-underage drinking laws; (2) encourages and conducts comprehensive enforcement efforts to prevent underage access to alcohol at retail outlets; (3) encourages training on the proper selling and serving of alcohol as a condition of employment; (4) has programs or laws to deter adults from purchasing alcohol for minors; and (5) has programs targeted to youths, parents, and caregivers to deter underage drinking. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to continue to fund and oversee the production, broadcasting, and evaluation of the national adult-oriented media public service campaign, if the Secretary determines that such campaign is effective in achieving the media campaign's measurable objectives. Sets forth reporting requirements. Requires the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, subject to the availability of appropriations, to award enhancement grants to eligible entities to design, test, evaluate, and disseminate effective strategies to maximize the effectiveness of community-wide approaches to preventing and reducing underage drinking, if the Administrator determines that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is not currently conducting duplicative activities. Requires the Secretaryof Education to: (1) award grants to eligible entities to prevent and reduce the rate of underage alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, among students at institutions of higher education; and (2) publish achievement indicators for the program. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, subject to the availability of appropriations, to collect data and conduct or support research that is not duplicative of research currently being conducted or supported by HHS, on underage drinking with respect to: (1) comprehensive community-based programs or strategies and statewide systems to prevent and reduce drinking from early childhood to age 21; (2) obtaining and reporting more precise information on the scope of the underage drinking problem and patterns of underage alcohol consumption; and (3) compiling information on the involvement of alcohol in unnatural deaths of persons age 12 to 20 in the United States. Requires the Secretary to carry out activities to: (1) obtain epidemiological data within the national or targeted surveys that identify alcohol use and attitudes about alcohol use during pre-and early adolescence, including harm caused to self or others as a result of adolescent alcohol use; and (2) develop or identify successful clinical treatments for youth with alcohol problems. Requires such research to meet current federal standards for scientific peer review. Authorizes appropriations.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The STOP Act amends the Public Health Service Act to address underage drinking by enhancing federal coordination, establishing reporting requirements, and supporting prevention programs. It mandates annual state performance reports on underage drinking prevention and funds research and community-based strategies. The bill also supports media campaigns and grants to reduce underage alcohol consumption, particularly among youth and college students.
This bill establishes a coordinated federal approach to prevent underage drinking through data collection, reporting, funding, and public education efforts.
- Establishes and enhances the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking to guide federal policy and programs.
- Requires annual reports on state performance in preventing underage drinking using specific measures.
- Authorizes grants and funding for community programs, research, and media campaigns aimed at reducing underage alcohol consumption.
Federal agencies involved in public health and education, states receiving performance evaluations and guidance, community organizations implementing prevention programs, and youth populations targeted by prevention efforts may benefit from the bill's provisions.
Implementation depends on appropriations and effective coordination among agencies, which may present challenges. The bill does not specify detailed funding levels or enforcement mechanisms. The effectiveness of media campaigns and grant programs relies on ongoing evaluation and resource allocation.
The bill, titled STOP Act and categorized under Health policy, originated in the House during the 109th Congress and has passed into law as of December 20, 2006. It reflects legislative efforts to address public health concerns related to underage drinking.
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The bill may lead to improved data collection and coordination on underage drinking, potentially influencing state policies and community programs. Enhanced research and media campaigns could indirectly affect public awareness and youth behavior over time.
The full bill text is not available, limiting detailed analysis. Appropriations are subject to availability, which may affect program implementation. Citizens may want to monitor annual state reports and evaluations of funded programs to assess effectiveness.
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