Annual Action Plan 2015
BACKGROUND
Galway City is the first City in Ireland to develop an alcohol strategy to prevent and reduce alcoholrelated harm. This five year strategy (2013-2017), which is informed by research on effective approaches to tackling alcohol-related harm, takes a community action approach and focuses on four key areas:B) Supply, Access & Availability
C) Screening, Treatment & Support Services
D) Research, Monitoring & Evaluation
Community action on alcohol is based on the premise that changes in public policies (regulation, enforcement, laws, systems change) are necessary to prevent and reduce alcoholrelated problems, rather than focus just on individual change. According to evidence, community action on alcohol is best implemented in towns and cities, with at least a population of over 5,000 people, for any chance of success.
The strategy, which was prepared by Galway Healthy Cities Alcohol Forum¹ in partnership with a range of organisations and groups, was launched in February 2013. The Galway Healthy Cities Alcohol Forum, which includes representatives from HSE West, Western Region Drugs and Alcohol Task Force, Galway/Roscommon Education & Training Board, An Garda Síochána, Galway City Council, Galway City Public Participatory Network and NUI Galway, is responsible for coordinating and driving the implementation of this strategy.
2014 Progress Report
As part of an annual progress update on the implementation of the strategy, a summary of actions completed in 2014 is outlined on the back page of this document. The focus of the second year of implementation was to continue to raise awareness of alcohol-related harm, strengthen our existing relationships and build new alliances, and move to more strategic and structural change. The Galway Healthy Cities Alcohol Forum would like to thank everyone involved for their effort and support in the work to date, and acknowledges that a community action approach to preventing and reducing alcohol-related harm requires everyone’s involvement.Critical Success Factors
The potential to successfully reduce alcoholrelated harm in Galway City is dependent on the support of national policies to address issues such as alcohol pricing, marketing and availability. The Alcohol Forum welcomes and supports the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 which proposes restrictions on cheap alcohol; warning labels and calorie details; new powers for Environmental Health Officers; and new restrictions on advertising, marketing and sponsorship. Galway City Alcohol Forum looks forward to seeing these actions being implemented as they are critical in preventing and reducing alcohol-related harm.On a local level, collaboration and interagency working is critical to ensure actions and decisions support the prevention and reduction of alcoholrelated harm. With limited resources, collaboration is also important to ensure we utilise our resources and efforts for maximum effect.
¹ Galway Healthy Cities Alcohol Forum is a sub group of Galway Healthy Cities Forum, which is a multi-agency group involved in the leading out of the World Health Organizations Healthy Cities Project in Galway City www.galwayhealthycities.ie
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A: Prevention
Aim: o communicate and engage with policy makers, stakeholders and the general public on how best to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm in Galway City
Priority Actions 2015*
Public Awareness |
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1a. We will develop a communication plan to raise awareness of alcohol-related harm 1b. We will communicate the impact of alcohol in relation to (a) cancer and (b) the developing brain 1c. We will communicate the impact of alcohol on the family 2a. We will promote and share information on what works to of effective action to prevent and prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm reduce alcohol-related harm 3a. We will examine how Galway City bye-laws could be used influence policy to prevent and reduce and strengthened to support the prevention and reduction alcohol-related harm |
Policy Development |
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4a. We will deliver two policy workshops to facilitate and to develop policies support community, voluntary and sporting organisations to develop alcohol policies 4b. We will Integrate the work of the Galway Alcohol Strategy into existing and new plans within Galway City |
Protecting Children & Young People |
| 5a. We will provide information and training to organisations from alcohol-related harm and alcohol working with young people in relation to the prevention promotion and reduction of alcohol-related harm |
Support Alcohol Free events |
| 6a. We will support and promote recreational options that are are free from alcohol alcohol free |
*Numbers and letters attached to priority actions for 2015 refer and are connected to the strategic actions outlined in the five year strategy (2013 -2017)
B: Supply, Access and Availability
Aim: To ensure that key factors influencing alcohol supply, such as price, availability and marketing, are regulated and controlled to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm in Galway City
Priority Actions 2015*
Alcohol Price |
| 7a. We will continue to advocate for the introduction and alcohol pricing implementation of measures, including minimum pricing, in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 |
Alcohol Availability |
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8a. (i) We will make a submission to Galway City Development Galway City Plan in relation to issues affecting access and availability of alcohol (ii) We will update the map on the number, type and density of outlets selling alcohol in Galway City 8b. We will promote the concept of healthy meetings and events 8c. We will review and update the Festival Care Guidelines 9a. We will communicate information on the process for granting enforcement relating to the sale of and renewal of alcohol licenses |
Alcohol Marketing |
| 10a. We will continue to log and monitor local alcohol marketing alcohol marketing in public places practices in print and social media |
Enforcement of Legislation |
| 12a. We will support the enforcement of legislation by An Garda bye-laws relating to alcohol Siochana in relation to sale and supply of alcohol |
*Numbers and letters attached to priority actions for 2015 refer and are connected to the strategic actions outlined in the five year strategy (2013 -2017)
C: Screening, Treatment and Support Services
Aim: To use information and research in decision making to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm in Galway City
Priority Actions 2015*
*Numbers and letters attached to priority actions for 2015 refer and are connected to the strategic actions outlined in the five year strategy (2013 -2017)
D: Research, Monitoring and Evaluation - 2015 Action Plan
Aim: To use information and research in decision making to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm.
Priority Actions 2015*
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15a. Connected to 2a. We will promote and share information based practice in preventing and on what works to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm reducing alcohol-related harm 15c. We will undertake research to assess the exposure of alcohol marketing on young people in Galway City |
Research |
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16a. (i) The Alcohol Forum will meet three times in 2015 to review and impact of this strategy and progress actions 16b. We will carry out a mid-way review to assess the impact to date of the strategy |
*Numbers and letters attached to priority actions for 2015 refer and are connected to the strategic actions outlined in the five year strategy (2013 -2017)