Evaluation of a local government \u201cshelter and van\u201d intervention to improve safety and reduce alcohol-related harm

Bernadette M Ward,Penny Buykx,Belinda O’Sullivan

doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6245-4

Bernadette M Ward, Penny Buykx + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6245-4

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Abstract

BackgroundThe entertainment precincts of cities, while contributing to local economies, need to be carefully managed to mitigate harms. Individual behaviours and government regulation have typically been the foci of interventions aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm. Little is known about how changes to the built environment might influence alcohol-related harms in these settings. The aim of this study was to explore how a public shelter and a volunteer-funded and staffed mobile van in a regional city influenced perceptions of safety and reduction in alcohol-related harm.MethodsAn intrinsic case-study approach was used. Document reviews, qualitative interviews with 16 key informants (volunteers, licensees, police, local business owners, patrons, community members and security guards), observation, and secondary data analysis were conducted in 2016. A conceptual framework of the causative pathways linking the drivers of alcohol consumption with social and health outcomes was used to inform the analysis.ResultsThe shelter and van were frequently utilised but there was no significant association with a reduction in the proportion of alcohol-related hospital emergency department presentations or police incident reports. Occupational health and safety risks were identified for the volunteers which had no management plan.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the challenge faced by local governments/authorities wanting to provide community-based interventions to complement other evidence-based approaches to reduce alcohol-related harm. Local governments/authorities with restricted regulatory oversight need to collaborate with key agencies for targeted upstream and evidence-based alcohol prevention and management interventions before investing resources. Such approaches are critical for improving community safety as well as health and social outcomes in communities at greatest risk of alcohol-related harm.

Highlights

The entertainment precincts of cities, while contributing to local economies, need to be carefully managed to mitigate harms
A number of local authorities with high outlet density and high rates of alcohol-related harm have implemented cumulative impact policies (CIPs) which assume, in a defined geographical area, a licence application will be refused unless the applicant can demonstrate they do not compromise alcohol-related harm licensing objectives [9]
While we provided an in-depth description of one local government approach to reducing alcohol-related harm, we did not have information about other cases

Summary

Introduction

The entertainment precincts of cities, while contributing to local economies, need to be carefully managed to mitigate harms. A number of local authorities with high outlet density and high rates of alcohol-related harm have implemented cumulative impact policies (CIPs) which assume, in a defined geographical area, a licence application will be refused unless the applicant can demonstrate they do not compromise alcohol-related harm licensing objectives [9]. These have been associated with a reduction in alcohol-related hospital admissions [10]. Responsibility rests with state/territory governments, who have a role in ensuring that liquor outlets conform to local planning zone restrictions [11]

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