Posted: June 14th, 2023

Assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Advocacy Statement

Assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement

Part I: Legislation Comparison Grid

Instructions:
Complete the Legislation Comparison Grid based on the following:

Locate two state-level (Florida) statutes that address the issue of underage drinking.
Write a 3-4 sentence summary of each statute in the grid.
Provide a brief analysis of the similarities and differences of each statute.
Provide an APA formatted reference for each statute in the grid.
Legislation Summary Analysis APA Reference
Florida Statute 562.11 This statute makes it illegal for a person under the age of 21 to purchase, attempt to purchase, or possess alcohol. Violators may face a fine and/or community service. Florida Statute 562.11 and Florida Statute 562.111 are similar in that they both prohibit underage possession of alcohol. However, Florida Statute 562.111 specifically targets situations where minors are found to be in possession of alcoholic beverages on school property or at school-sponsored events. Florida Statute 562.11. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0562/Sections/0562.11.html
Florida Statute 562.111 This statute makes it illegal for a person under the age of 21 to possess alcoholic beverages on school property or at school-sponsored events. Violators may face a fine and/or community service, and may also have their driver’s license suspended. Florida Statute 562.11 and Florida Statute 562.111 are similar in that they both prohibit underage possession of alcohol. However, Florida Statute 562.111 specifically targets situations where minors are found to be in possession of alcoholic beverages on school property or at school-sponsored events. Florida Statute 562.111. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0562/Sections/0562.111.html
Part II: Testimony/Advocacy Statement

Instructions:
Imagine that you are a member of a community organization that advocates for the prevention of underage drinking. You have been asked to provide testimony at a public hearing regarding the effectiveness of current state-level laws in preventing underage drinking. Write a 1-2 page advocacy statement that addresses the following:

A brief overview of the issue of underage drinking and its impact on communities.
A description of the current state-level laws in place to prevent underage drinking.
An analysis of the effectiveness of the current laws in preventing underage drinking.
Recommendations for improving state-level laws to better prevent underage drinking.
A conclusion that summarizes the main points of your advocacy statement.
Advocacy Statement:

Good afternoon, members of the committee. My name is [Your Name] and I am a member of [Community Organization], a group dedicated to preventing underage drinking in our communities. Today, I would like to share with you our perspective on the effectiveness of current state-level laws in preventing underage drinking.

Underage drinking is a serious issue that affects communities across our state. The consequences of underage drinking can be severe, ranging from alcohol poisoning to impaired driving to decreased academic performance. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, underage drinking costs the United States approximately $24 billion annually.

Florida has enacted several state-level laws to prevent underage drinking, including Florida Statute 562.11 and Florida Statute 562.111, which prohibit underage possession of alcohol and possession of alcohol on school property, respectively.