Youth Alcohol Use

To prevent youth alcohol use, our communities need to limit both social and retail access. Our coalition encourages adults to say "Not in My House" to underage drinking and urges retailers to comply with the minimum legal drinking age of 21.   

Most underage drinkers in Sauk County don't buy alcohol directly from retailers. They get it from social sources like parties, older friends or siblings, or parents and other relatives-- their own or their friends'.

The Not in My House campaign encourages parents and other adults to say "Not in My House" to underage drinking and builds awareness of Wisconsin's Social Host Law.

Under the 2017 Wisconsin Social Host Law, if you provide a location for underage drinking to occur, or fail to take reasonable steps to prevent underage drinking* on a property you control, you could face citations ranging from $500 for the first offense to $10,000 for multiple offenses.

Plus, if someone gets injured or property is damaged, there may be lawsuits and costs that won't be covered by homeowner's insurance.

*For minors that aren't your own children or underage spouse

Get your Not in My House campaign materials today! Request our Party Tips brochure, Tips for Talking to Youth About Drugs brochure, Yard Sign, Parent Pledge Card, and key chain. We also have Not in My House stickers for alcohol retailers to put on cooler doors or products. 

To join the movement and get campaign materials, contact Sauk County Public Health at (608) 355-3290 or P4P@saukcountywi.gov.

Alcohol age compliance checks use recruited youth (age 18-20) who attempt to purchase alcohol from local alcohol licensees (e.g. bars, convenience stores) with their own underage ID or no ID. Our coalition partners with local law enforcement to conduct these checks. 

Compliance checks help Sauk County communities reduce illegal sales of alcohol to individuals under 21 years old. Research shows that effective and regular compliance checks help to: decrease alcohol sales to minors; reduce underage drinking; reduce traffic crashes, violence, and other health problems associated with alcohol misuse; and ultimately build healthier and safer communities.

Sauk Prairie Area Summer 2024 Compliance Check Press Release 

City of Reedsburg Winter 2024 Compliance Check Press Release

City of Reedsburg Summer 2023 Compliance Check Press Release

City of Baraboo Fall 2022 Compliance Check Press Release 

 The Sauk County Partnership for Prevention (P4P) coalition and local law enforcement agencies are conducting alcohol compliance checks of local retailers and are looking to recruit youth ages 18-19 to serve as buyers. This is a great opportunity to experience community coalition and law enforcement work! This internship experience will be approximately 3-4 weeks in length and can start anytime between July - August 2025.  

What you do as a Intern:
You enter businesses licensed to sell alcohol –convenience stores, bars, restaurants, etc. –to try to purchase alcohol with your own underage ID or no ID. You will be supervised by a P4P adult advisor & law enforcement officer during this process. If an illegal sale occurs, the seller may be fined.

• Interns are needed to work evening shifts, 3-4 hours per shift, Thurs-Sat. If selected, you will also need to attend a one-hour training session prior to your first compliance check.
• If requested, you will also need to be available to testify at any trials or administrative hearings related to the sale for up to 6 months after the last compliance check operation. When testifying, you will explain what you did and said during the compliance check.

Applicants who have received an underage drinking citation in the past will not be considered for this program.

Please contact Kate Hansen, Health Educator, with any questions about this internship. Call/Text 608-477-3609 or kate.hansen@saukcountywi.gov