Strong federal leadership has resulted in the passage of zero tolerance laws in all 50 states and D.C. and federal funding for underage drinking prevention programs has increased. There has been a substantial increase in the passage of graduated licensing laws at the state level and the nation has begun to focus on the alcohol problem on college campuses. Need to develop and implement effective programs to combat underage and binge drinking on college campuses and fund and implement a national media campaign focusing on alcohol and underage drinking prevention. New York remains the only state with a truly self-sufficient DUI program. Taxes on alcohol remain low and there should be a substantial increase to support prevention, enforcement and treatment programs.
Strong support is needed to defeat the ongoing effort to repeal the beer tax.
A Crime Victim Rights Constitutional Amendment has been introduced at federal level. All 50 states have now adopted a zero tolerance law for drivers under the age of 21. There has been little state activity in adopting priority DUI countermeasures such as ALR, .08 BAC and standard enforcement safety belt laws because of weak incentive grant programs or non-existent mandates at the federal level. There needs to be more emphasis on the problem of driving while suspended, increasing sanctions for test refusal and defective zero tolerance laws.