Alcohol;No

Ordinary Commodity

www.add-resources.org

Two extremes:

1. ”Control policies are the only effective interventions. Education and information is only wasted time, money and effort”.

Where dopoliciescome from?

Two extremes:

1. ”Control policies are the only effective interventions. Education and information is only wasted time, money and effort”.

2. “We need to educate people to change their dangerous drinking practises. Regulations are not effective; people drink anyway”.

Change of behaviour is a complex and complicated process…

Change of behaviour is a complex and complicated process…

…and we keep on doing it all the time!

A simplistic approach does not work:

Knowledge

Attitudes/values

Actions

A more realoistic scenario:

Actions

Attitudes/values

Knowledge

The key to behaviour change:

> Drinking alcohol is a social thing> Our attitudes towards drinking and our drinking habits are socially determined (eg. gender differences in drinking)> Change of drinking behaviour has to involve collective changes, not only address individuals> Strategies have to involve changes in the drinking environment (common beliefs, rituals and the rules of ”the social game”

”Alcohol problems can be minimized or prevented using a coordinated, systematic policy response”

Control policies

Education Mobilization

The prevention triangle

Control policies:

Regulation of marketsby governments to reduce the availability of a substance and to guarantee - from a health/social point of view - a safest possible production and distribution system.

Education:Provide information and training and influence values – to help people to decide and act adequately in their respective settings

Mobilization:Make alcohol and drug prevention a part of the agenda for social/political movements,

link the issue to other key policy issues and involve leadership and members in practical activities.

Control policies: A top-down approach• Reduces access to alcohol• Constant reminder: No Ordinary Commodity• Education

Education Mobilization

Control policies

Education:•Myth-busting and factual information; •Training of professionals to act professionally; •Raise awareness around important issues;•Motivate for the need for control policies.

Mobilization

Control policies

Mobilization:• Youth and children’s organizations• HIV/AIDS and health promotion NGOs• Women’s organizations• Trade unions and professional groups• Organizations for poverty reduction• CBOs and FBOs/churches

Education

Control policies

Education Mobilization

The prevention triangle

• A broad set of interventions;• Interlinked and coordinated in order

to create synergies;• Each type of interventions serve their specific purpose