E. Lang et al., USE OF PSEUDO-PATRONS TO ASSESS COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS REGARDING UNDER-AGE DRINKING, Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 20(3), 1996, pp. 296-300
The extent to which door and bar staff of licensed premises responded
to possibly under-age patrons was assessed through the use of research
assistants (young pseudo-patrons) selected for having the appearance
of being under 18 years old, A total of 156 visits were made to 13 lic
ensed premises: 1. before delivery of a server training program, 2. im
mediately after training, and 3. after three months. Staff rarely chec
ked the age and/or identification (ID) of the young pseudo-patrons bef
ore or after training. However, a significant interaction was found be
tween the sex of the pseudo-patron and the type of premises. Door staf
f, who were predominantly at nightclubs, were more likely to check the
ID of female pseudo-patrons and hotel bar staff were more likely to c
heck the ID of males. In most cases, however, nonphotographic ID was a
ccepted. While some strategies are suggested, the strongest and most e
ffective measure to prevent under-age drinking will be a more rigorous
enforcement of existing liquor laws.