Eliminating Alcohol Sales to Youth (EASY)
Utah's Eliminating Alcohol Sales to Youth Program
The EASY program helps stop minors from buying alcohol. It does this in two ways:
- Funding local police for alcohol compliance checks.
- Requiring training for retail managers and employees.
EASY Retail Training
The EASY program requires mandatory training for anyone who sells or supervises the sale of beer in Utah stores (off-premise locations like grocery and convenience stores).
This training helps prevent underage alcohol sales. It is administered by the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
EASY Retail Manager Training
- Who Needs It: All managers who oversee beer sales.
- When: Within 30 days of being hired as a manager.
- Important: Managers who do not complete this training within 30 days must be removed from their managerial duties until certified.
| Fiscal Year | Compliance Checks Conducted | Compliance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2007 | 1,523 | 88.30% |
| FY 2008 | 1,526 | 84.10% |
| FY 2009 | 1,970 | 87.40% |
| FY 2010 | 2,512 | 90.30% |
| FY 2011 | 1,580 | 90.60% |
| FY 2012 | 2,416 | 92.30% |
| FY 2013 | 1,887 | 91.70% |
| FY 2014 | 1,364 | 91.00% |
| FY 2015 | 1,465 | 89.70% |
| FY 2016 | 1,784 | 91.40% |
| FY 2017 | 1,567 | 92.40% |
| FY 2018 | 1,599 | 92.10% |
| FY 2019 | 1,334 | 90.25% |
| FY 2020 | 1,074 | 93.28% |
| FY 2021 | 476 | 88.45% |
| FY 2022 | 1,220 | 92.87% |
| Compliance Percentage By County (FY2023) | |
|---|---|
| County | Compliance Rate |
| Box Elder | 95% |
| Cache | 95% |
| Davis | 95% |
| Juab | 100% |
| Millard | 100% |
| Salt Lake | 95% |
| San Juan | 100% |
| Summit | 25% |
| Tooele | 95% |
| Uintah | 100% |
| Utah | 95% |
| Washington | 80% |
| Weber | 95% |
Beyond Retail: Addressing All Sources of Underage Alcohol
The EASY program focuses on stopping stores from selling alcohol to minors. However, the biggest source of alcohol for young people is often "social supply" – alcohol given to them by parents, relatives, or friends.
To tackle this, Utah offers Parents Empowered. This program teaches parents about the dangers of youth alcohol use and how to guide their children to stay alcohol-free.
Together, these efforts are making a difference. Data from the Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey shows a positive trend: alcohol use among Utah students is declining.
For more information
EASY Alcohol Compliance Checks
Utah Highway Safety Office
Lynda Hansen
385-290-5305
[email protected]
EASY Retail Training
Utah Division Of Substance Abuse & Mental Health
801-538-3939
sumh.utah.gov
Utah’s Alcohol Laws & Manager Training
Utah Department Of Alcoholic Beverage Services
801-977-6800
abs.utah.gov
