National City
IPS has been providing alcohol and drug prevention services in National City since 2008. With assistance from countywide prevention providers and concerned community members, IPS provided technical assistance to pass a Social Host Ordinance (SHO) in National City in 2003 and update it in 2019. National City’s Social Host law imposes a misdemeanor on individuals who host underage drinking events on property they own, lease or otherwise control. The purpose of the ordinance is to deter underage drinking parties by decreasing social access to alcohol and marijuana by underage youth.
With assistance from the Responsible Hospitality Coalition and concerned community members, IPS provided technical assistance to pass a Responsible Beverage Sales and Service (RBSS) ordinance in 2006. RBSS is a training program for servers who sell alcoholic beverages for both on premise and off-premise consumption. It aims to provide servers the necessary skills to responsibly serve alcoholic beverages and mitigate alcohol-related harm in California communities. RBSS has three essential elements: policy development, merchant education, and partnerships with law enforcement. As of July, 2022, it will be mandatory for all on- sale premise servers to complete a certified RBSS program. The certifications will be approved by the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control
Since 2006, the National City Planning Department has asked IPS to provide valuable input on whether or not to approve Conditional Use Permits for proposed alcohol retailers by conducting Environmental Scans which are designed to capture the environment surrounding the proposed outlet to determine the impact the establishment may have on the surrounding community. For example, an environmental scan may determine that a gas station that wishes to sell alcohol is located in a community with a crime rate several times higher than the county’s average. When conducting a scan, IPS staff determines whether the proposed retailer is located near youth sensitive areas (ex. schools, day care centers, churches, fast food restaurants with playgrounds, youth-friendly businesses), and other vulnerable community establishments (ex. senior centers, recovery centers, homeless shelters, continuation schools, and other adult-oriented (police-regulated) establishments. The scan also takes into account the current alcohol-outlet density of the census tract in which the proposed retailer hopes to locate. The scan also includes comments from community members and nearby business owners who provide input on whether or not the proposed license would either help or harm the public health, safety and welfare of the surrounding neighborhood.
For the past 13 years, IPS and South Bay Youth 4 Change students have conducted Minor Decoy Operations and Shoulder Taps within the city of National City. The goal of these operations are to reduce underage consumption of, and access to, alcohol by deterring adults from furnishing it to youth outside grocery, liquor and convenience stores. The National City Police Department is committed to raise public awareness about youth access to alcohol and focuses on communities that have a high incidence of alcohol-related traffic crashes and injuries involving those under age 21.
IPS is a member of the National City Collaborative (NCC) which serves to nurture and promote the collective vision of over fifty community organizations and agencies that are focused on enhancing the well-being of the local community. The NCC meets on the 3rd Monday of every month.
IPS participates in the National City Community, Action, Resources and Engagement (CARE) meetings which are facilitated by the San Diego County District Attorney’s office and aimed at linking individuals to community-based prevention and intervention services in order to build strong community relationships and reducing crime. CARE meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month.
