A Guide for Local Government
Introduction:
The purpose of this guide is to support local governments across the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) area to reduce the harm from alcohol consumption at a local level. The harm that result from alcohol consumption can go beyond alcohol related diseases to a range of social, economic and environmental impacts on the community. This includes alcohol related assaults, injuries, property damage and other forms of anti-social or illegal behaviour. Local governments are becoming more directly involved in managing alcohol related issues and are ideally placed to facilitate a coordinated response in preventing the harm from alcohol consumption.
This guide provides a practical overview on the:
- harm that individuals and communities can experience from alcohol consumption
- role of local government in reducing these harm
- steps required to plan, implement and evaluate harm reduction strategies
strategies that have been shown to reduce harm.
- The guide applies key health promotion principles to:
- ensure all public policies, not just health policies, contribute in some way to improving people’s health
- create social and physical environments that encourage and support health and wellbeing
- develop people’s personal skills and knowledge about their own health and wellbeing
- strengthen communities to support health and wellbeing improvement
- ensure services are effective, efficient and accessible to all and have a stronger role in preventing illness and disease2 .
