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Southern Local Community Planning Forum

Alcohol Misuse - Cause, Effect and Cure

On Tuesday 24 August 2010 at Netherthird Community Centre the Southern Local Community Planning Forum (SLCPF) met to discuss the "Alcohol Misuse - Cause, Effect and Cure".

On arrival, participants had the opportunity to view information stalls provided by the Ayrshire Council on Alcohol and Schools Alcohol Education Co-ordinator. Eddie Fraser, Head of Service: Community Care and Chair of the East Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug PArtnership (EAADP) formally opened the event with an overview presentation to provide information on alcohol misuse within the national and local context, and setting out the work of the EAADP. This was followed by a case study presented by Robert McHarg and Andy McLaren of A & M Training. Following an introduction by Robert McHarg, Andy McLaren provided a verbal account of his experience with alcohol and drugs misuse, setting out the causes, effects and, ultimately, the cure in his personal case

The group then split into two workshops and undertook a brief quiz and activity in relation to alcohol awareness. This was followed by the opportunity for participants to make suggestions as to actions which could reduce the impact of alcohol from perspective of the individual, local voluntary organisations or similar and local and national agencies. During this part of the session, the following issues were identified:-

Individual

• Improve education/awareness about alcohol
• Provide information to young people regarding the health effects of alcohol
• Moderation in home drinking/recognition of what constitutes a unit of alcohol
• Recognition of parental responsibility
• Recognition of social acceptability

Community Groups

• Provision of diversionary activities
• Initiatives to promote education/awareness of alcohol and its effects - through artivles and newsletters
• Joined up approach by voluntary organisations

Community Planning Partners/National Agencies

• Promote education initiatives
• Minimum pricing of alcohol
• Promote diversionary activities
• Limiting the availability of alcohol through licensing, e.g. limit establishments selling alcohol and drinks promotion
• Consider most appropriate use of resources/targeting of resources
• Restrict alcohol advertising
• Appropriate treatment for offenders where alcohol has been a factor
• Support/funding for community/voluntary groups initiatives

The next forum meeting will be held in November 2010. If you wish to know more about the Local Community Planning Forums or the Community Planning Partnership, click here.