After a needs assessment is completed, prevention planners should create a strategic plan that reflects the findings of the needs assessment. The strategic plan should include goals and objectives that relate to the problems and issues identified in the needs assessment. Goals and objectives should be clear and measurable. Environmental strategies do not depend upon touching each individual in a target group with specific educational information. Environmental strategies are designed to affect the overall context in which young people live, learn and make decisions about whether or not to use alcohol.
Environmental strategies support healthy behavior and reduce risky behavior.
These strategies affect large numbers of people and produce more powerful and sustainable results at lower costs. The 21 year old minimum drinking age is an environmental strategy that has resulted dramatic decreases in crash-related deaths and injuries related to underage drinking.