Coalitions Integral in Changing Drinking Age in Guam

Guam's Acting Governor Dr. Mike Cruz today signed into law the Ramon Oberiano Act which raises the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. The measure, which takes effect immediately, has been dubbed a success by coalitions in Guam which played a major role in getting the measure passed.

The act was named in honor of Ramon Oberiano who was the victim of a drunk driver. He was killed on December 23, 2006 while riding his bicycle. His family attended the historic signing event.

The governor told news reporters that he hoped the law would save lives. Cruz also signed two other alcohol-related measures that roll back weekend drinking hours from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. and one that stiffens penalties for establishments that violate these new drinking hours.

“Today was historic,” wrote Public Information Officer for Guam’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Christine Camacho, in an e-mail. “Our coalitions, youth coalitions, and health professionals all joined hands to make sure that we advocated hard for this — We did it!”

Camacho said coalitions delivered letters to their legislature and their youth coalition marched up to Adelup, their version of Capitol Hill, to help change the legal drinking age in this U.S. territory.

Their recent social marketing campaign, One Nation, helped raise awareness of the island’s drinking problem by featuring public service announcements, billboards, posters, and water bottles that promote healthy behaviors and alcohol-free lifestyles on Guam. (To read more about Guam's One Nation campaign, see Guam Celebrates Alcohol Awareness Month With Huge Campaign.)

With a Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Department of Mental Health for Guam sub-granted four community drug-free coalitions to work on prevention issues in Guam in conjunction with Camacho’s office.

The coalitions hosted town hall meetings, alcohol screenings, youth conferences, 5K runs, and other events island-wide to promote the One Nation campaign. During this morning’s signing event, the bill’s author personally thanked the Guam’s One Nation Team including the Youth For Youth LIVE! Guam Coalition for their perseverance.

Data from the territory’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System reveals that both heavy drinking and binge drinking are significantly higher among adults on Guam as compared to the U.S. Heavy drinking among Guam males is almost double that of U.S. males (10.7 percent vs. 5.6 percent), while binge drinking among Guam males is 65 percent higher (34.5 percent vs. 20.9 percent).

According to Guam’s Substance Abuse Epidemiological Profile (2007), Youth on Guam reportedly drink as early as 13 years old; 36 percent of high school youth on Guam are current drinkers and about 19 percent engage in binge drinking – with Chamorro and other Micronesian Islander youth having the highest rate. Some 43 percent of adults on Guam are current drinkers; with males drinking more than females; and alcohol is implicated in close to one-third of all suicide-related incidents - suicide is prevalent on Guam, with an average of one suicide death occurring every two weeks.