Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) is a community-based project that aims to reduce alcohol consumption among young people through reducing the availability of alcohol to young people from commercial and noncommercial sources, and to change community views regarding acceptance and tolerance of underage alcohol consumption. This broad endeavor includes efforts to change ordinances and policies, enhance enforcement efforts, and increase media attention related to underage alcohol consumption.

CMCA relies on a community organizing approach and is lead by local organizers in each participating community.

Organizers follow the following 7-step process:

1. Assess the community
2. Create a core leadership group
3. Develop a plan of action
4. Build a mass base of support
5. Implement the action plan
6. Maintain the organization and institutional change
7. Evaluate changes

The CMCA was evaluated in a combination randomized community trial and time-series study of 15 communities in the Midwestern United States. 

A detailed summary of this program and its evaluation is included in the Programs section of the Guide.

References:

1. Wagenaar, A. C., Gehan, J. P., Jones-Webb, R., Toomey, T. L., & Forster, J. L. (1999). Communities mobilizing for change on alcohol: Lessons and results from a 15-community randomized trial. Journal of Community Psychology, Vol. 27(3), pp. 315-326.

2. Wagenaar, A. C., Murray, D. M., Gehan, J. P., Molfson, M., Forster, J. L., Toomey, T. L., et al. ((2000). Communities mobilizing for change on alcohol: Outcomes from a randomized community trial. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Vol. 61(1), pp. 85-94.

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