Alcohol Harm Reduction
Alcohol is the most commonly used recreational drug in New Zealand and the rest of the world. The use of alcohol is known to contribute to a wide range of physical and social harms including:
- liver and breast cancer
- violence related injuries
- alcohol related traffic crashes
- unwanted and unintended sexual behaviour and its consequences
- domestic violence and lost working days.
It is estimated that 1040 deaths occur each year due to alcohol with the burden falling largely on males, the young and Maori.
Role of Public Health South
We aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the community by:
- reducing the supply of alcohol to under 18 year olds
- reducing intoxication in licensed premises
- reducing alcohol sponsorship and advertising.
Health Promotion Advisors work in partnership with District Licensing Agencies, local police, community groups and other organisations to develop projects and support community-led initiatives to minimise alcohol related harm in the community.
Projects
Key projects aimed at minimising alcohol related harm include:
”Get into it not out of it” – South Island strategy
The goal of the project is to reduce intoxication attributed to alcohol service in licensed premises. This involves social marketing that educates the public about the behaviour expected on licensed premises, and staff training in the laws around intoxication and host responsibility.
After Ball Party Project
The goal of this project is to enable young people to party safely. Parents, the community, teachers and schools (where possible) are co-opted to implement safe partying guidelines. For example, a party must have: host responsibility strategies in place, controls around the amount and type of alcohol, be supported by parents and the police and have a security plan established well before the party.
Drink Safe Workshops
Staff of licensed premises are provided with training about host responsibility and ways to meet their obligations under the Sale of Liquor Act. Drinksafe workshops are held in partnership with the police and local councils and provide an opportunity to learn and practise skills with staff from other licensed premises eg. recognising intoxication and identifying acceptable forms of identification.
Youth Access to Alcohol project (YATA)
Community action projects to reduce the supply of alcohol to minors.
Host responsibility for licensed premises
Encouraging and monitoring host responsibility practice in licensed premises is an important role for Public Health South and provides an opportunity to reduce alcohol related harm that results from sub-standard management of licensed premises.
Under the provisions of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989, the Medical Officer of Health has a duty to inquire into host responsibility practices in licensed premises and along with police, inform the District Licensing Agency of any concerns. This enables Public Health South to work with licensees and their staff to develop good host responsibility policies and practices in licensed establishments.
Advocacy
Evaluation and research informs the Alcohol team’s submissions to amend and change legislation enabling greater potential for the minimisation of alcohol related harms.
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