IMPACT OF 9/11 BORDER SECURITY ON YOUTHFUL CROSS-BORDER DRINKING

Mexican border towns have for many years been attractive locales for young Americans to get drunk and;let off steam; because of the lower drinking age and inexpensive drinks south of the border. The extent of this cross-border binging is generally unrecognized. On a typical weekend night, as many as 7,000 youths aged 24 and younger, cross the border at San Diego to patronize Tijuana bars. Community enforcement programs directed at discouraging such cross-border drinking have shown some impact on the number of crossers. However, the impact of the increased security resulting from the events of 11 September 2001 had a much greater impact. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference, see ITRD Abstract No. E201067.