Alcohol Awareness Week 2012 in review

Last week, 19-25 November was designated Alcohol Awareness Week (AAW) 2012 by Alcohol Concern. The theme of "It’s time to talk about drinking" aimed to stimulate discussion and local activity to promote understanding of alcohol misuse. Here's a round up of some of the things that went on.

A Twitter hashtag of #alcoholaware2012 generated close to one thousand tweets over the week. However tweets were largely divided between those supporting or promoting the week, and those against or mocking it.

As reported, national and regional bodies released reports and campaigns. Drinkwise launched a 'discussion kit' to support public-initiated conversations, whilst Balance aimed to generate support for a 50 pence minimum unit price (MUP). A Government consultation is expected to announce the options of a 40, 45 or 50 pence MUP this week.

Alcohol Concern and Balance, both advocating 50 pence MUP, jointly released a report stating 15 and 16 year olds in the UK are more likely than those in almost any other European country to have been drunk in the last month.

However the report attracted criticism given significant falls in the overall proportion of pupils aged 11 to 15 who drank in the last week. There were other critiques of the use of stats by those opposing health calls for action. Perhaps the most prolific self-proclaimed 'anti-nanny stater' Christopher Snowden compiled a blog of various alcohol harm stats going down.

A comprehensive official analysis of alcohol stats (going up and down) can be found in the annual national statistics for alcohol reports.

Local activity snapshot

Searching online for 'Alcohol Awareness Week' shows many local authorities, health bodies and voluntary sector organisations carried out activities. Whilst some appeared to carry out only traditional 'health advice' approaches, many seem to be integrating 'Identifcation and Brief Advice' (IBA) which has been increasingly recognised as an effective intervention for at-risk drinkers.

A couple of examples of local area activities are highlighted to list but a few. Reigate & Banstead Borough Council used a double decker bus to promote activity and the Change4Life drinks tracker app. In Bradford district-wide activity including a clampdown on illegal sales generated local press coverage, whilst others directly promoted Alcohol Concern's Dry January. In Cumbria more than 160 people took part in a live webchat hosted by NHS Cumbria and the Police.

Others chose the week to promote various new initiatives or reports, ranging from NICE tweeting its new briefing for local authorities, to a new online peer support website 'Soberistas' for women wanting to quit or cut back their drinking. That's all we can cover for now, but expect we'll see you for AAW next year!

Comments

[Kate]

Soberistas looks good...For Awareness Week in Islington we ( myself, local alcohol agency and formr clients of services)ran a stall in the N1 Shopping centre giving out information about services, guess the unit competition and gave countless brief interventions to those who were worried or concerned about their drinking.