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 do
policies
come 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”
The prevention triangle
Control policies
Education
Mobilization
Control policies:
Regulation of markets
by 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
Mobilization
Education:
•Myth-busting and factual information;
•Training of professionals to act professionally;
•Raise awareness around important issues;
•Motivate for the need for control policies.
Control policies
Education
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
The prevention triangle
Control policies
Education
Mobilization
• A broad set of interventions;
• Interlinked and coordinated in order
to create synergies;
• Each type of interventions serve
their specific purpose