Alcohol Strategy and Action Plan 2009-2014

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Part 2: Overview of Objectives

This section outlines the actions that the strategy will achieve and implement during 2009- 2014. These actions were identified from an analysis of the alcohol harm data, community concerns and the agencies responses about what actions can be undertaken to support the strategy vision and objectives. 

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The actions incorporate a whole of community approach to reducing alcohol-related harms, and draw on the particular strengths of the strong established partnerships between the key agency provider, to promoting safer alcohol-related environments for New Plymouth, and include roles for Council and other key stakeholders.

The action plan focuses on the following key objectives, with specific activities for action:

1. To provide leadership to reduce alcohol related harms.
2. To ensure the legal and responsible supply of alcohol.
3. To promote safer alcohol-related environments.
4. To minimise alcohol related harms by encouraging responsible use of alcohol.
5. To develop, enhance and sustain a whole of community approach to reducing alcohol related harms.

Objective One: To Provide Leadership To Reduce Alcohol Related Harms

This strategy recognises that the Council and a number of other agencies have a legitimate and important role to play in efforts to reduce alcohol related harms. There are areas where the Council will be a leader, and other areas where the Council will be a supporting partner and other agencies will take leadership roles. As some of the largest employers and asset managers in the community police, government, Council and health will demonstrate leadership through the development and implementation of a range of alcohol focused policies both within its own organisations and throughout the community.

Objective Two: To ensure the legal and responsible supply of alcohol

The Council, Police the Medical Officer of Health and Fire Service all share a focus on supporting and enhancing the wellbeing and safety of the New Plymouth community, as well as having specific roles relating to the legal and responsible supply of alcohol. Ensuring the legal and responsible supply of alcohol requires a partnership approach amongst these agencies. The agencies will continue to actively collaborate to undertake monitoring, and support the enforcement of the Sale of Liquor Act and all subsequent legislation.

Objective Three: To promote safer alcohol-related environments

The Council, Police, government and health agencies can influence the environment around licenced premises, enhancing safety and reducing the risk of alcohol related harm. Environmental interventions can work in conjunction with interventions within licenced premises to enhance safety within the vicinity of licenced premises. The Council will also work with its partner agencies and existing community interventions to identify opportunities to inform the New Plymouth community about the risks associated alcohol misuse in the community.

Objective Four: To minimise alcohol related harms by encouraging responsible use of alcohol

A key challenge for agencies working to reduce alcohol related harms and to enhance safer alcohol related environments is to effectively work in non-regulated or community environments. The partnering organisations recognise this challenge, and consider that there are existing strong community coalitions and other tools that enable effective interventions at the community level to encourage the responsible use of alcohol.

Objective Five: To develop, enhance and sustain a whole of community approach to reducing alcohol related harms

The development of this strategy has highlighted opportunities for a range of agencies, community groups to collaborate to reduce alcohol related harms, enhance safer alcohol related environments, and to change New Plymouth's drinking culture. Increasing awareness of the social and community-wide impacts of alcohol is an opportunity for many agencies, and requires more than a response from an individual agency. Through this strategy, the community supports the need for effective community action and multi-level initiatives to achieve the desired goals. All partner agencies will continue to be active partners in local collaborations that support the development, implementation and evaluation of effective interventions to reduce the spectrum of alcohol related harms and promote safer environments. Return to top

Action Plan

This action plan provides a comprehensive framework to reduce the effects of alcohol misuse on individuals, family and whanau and community. It sets out  a whole of community approach and emphasises integrated action across government and community, informed by community engagement and consultation, expert advice and evidence‐based practice. The plan outlines 30 goals and their associated actions within five objectives.

To Promote Leadership to Reduce Alcohol Related Harm

Goal	Action	Lead Agency	Time Frame	Resources	Key indicators of progress
(1.1) To provide opportunities for persons seeking employment to address alcohol issues that may affect their employment.	To train all work and income front line staff on how to respond to and deal with alcohol issues that affect their clients.	Work and Income	On-going	Work and Income trainer and front line staff	All front line staff are trained. Alcohol issues are identified, and persons affected offered appropriate help and advice.
(1.2) To provide targeted health interventions that reduce barriers to employment.	To deliver the PATHS health services to persons where employment may be impaired by their alcohol misuse.	Ministry of Social Development	2008 onwards	Health Advisor	Persons who require support accept and receive it.
	To provide financial support to persons who may require alcohol or other addiction services who cannot pay the full costs.				Persons whose alcohol use has prevented them from gaining employment obtain an employed position.
(1.3) To support persons in employment with a history of alcohol misuse to remain in employment.	To provide an in-work support programme to persons newly employed with a previous history of alcohol misuse to remain in employment by working with them and their employer.	Work and Income	2008 onwards	In-work support officers contracted via Work and Income	Staff recording a history of alcohol misuse remain in employment for six months or more.
(1.4) To support persons who receive guidance and advice for alcohol harm issues.	Through the Family Violence Screening programme, screen for alcohol related harm issues.	Ministry of Social Development	2008 onwards	Family Violence Coordinator Work and Income Advisors	People who identify alcohol as a factor affecting their household are referred to appropriate advice and support services.
(1.5) To continue to disseminate information that supports licences access to information regarding regulation and good practice towards alcohol harm minimisation.	Produce Elbow talk four times a year and disseminate to all licencees and licenced premises.	New Plymouth District Council	On-going	District Licencing Agency	All licenced premises receive the Elbow Talk publication and record a high level of satisfaction with its usefulness and content.
	Hold as a minimum a twice-yearly liquor liaison meeting with licenced premises to disseminate information on regulation, enforcement, and community issues surrounding alcohol use, and to see feedback from premises.	New Plymouth District Council		District Licencing Agency Public Health Police Fire Licencees	All licenced premises attend at least one forum per annum. Licenced premises record a high level of satisfaction with their attendance at the forums.
(1.6) To execute statutory responsibilities to safeguard community safety and wellbeing from alcohol misuse.	Provide an efficient regulatory response to applications for liquor licences and manager certificates.	New Plymouth District Council	On-going	District Licencing Agency Police Medical Officer of Health Fire Service	New Plymouth District Council Licensing timeframe targets. All licences issued comply with the Sale of Liquor Act.
	Make submissions to law reviews recommending clear roles and tools for regulatory and enforcement agencies.				Timely submissions are made to legislative review of Sale of Liquor Act and Law Commission Review. Increased compliance in licenced premises.
	Compliance enforcement activities are undertaken on a regular basis.				New legislation gives enhanced tools for agencies and clear direction to the sellers of alcohol.
(1.7) To provide leadership to promote healthy sport environments.	Promote a responsible alcohol use policy among sport groups through the Sports Future Taranaki programme.	Sport Taranaki	Ongoing	Sports Advisor YATA	All sport organisations involved in Sports Future Taranaki access information and advice to carry out their obligation of promoting the safe use of alcohol. Increased rate of compliance from licenced sports club premises resulting from DLA/Police inspections.
(1.8) To provide leadership to promote healthy sport environments.	Promote a responsible alcohol use and accreditation policy among Rugby Football clubs, linked to endorsed clubs for spectators for the Rugby world cup.	Taranaki Rugby Football Union	Ongoing	Taranaki Rugby Football Union staff YATA Sport Taranaki	All Rugby clubs involved in Taranaki community Rugby access information and advice to carry out their obligation of promoting the safe use of alcohol. Increased rate of compliance from licenced sports club premises resulting from DLA/Police inspections. High level of awareness of Manaaki Tangata policies/guidelines.
	Advocate for the restricted use of alcohol at sports events by supporting Taranaki Rugby League clubs to develop policies and guidelines to promote safer alcohol use.	Taranaki District Health Board	Ongoing	Public Health	Decrease in drinking around fields so less glass litter. Evidence of change in drinking culture at the clubs from members’ surveys.
(1.9) To provide leadership to promote healthy sport environments.	Promote a responsible alcohol use policy within Central Football.	Central Football	Ongoing	Central Football YATA Sport Taranaki	All rugby clubs involved in Taranaki community Rugby access information and advice to carry out their obligation of promoting the safe use of alcohol. Increased rate of compliance from licenced sports club premises resulting from DLA/Police inspections.
(1.10) To provide leadership to promote healthy sport environments.	Develop and promote a responsible alcohol use policy for Taranaki Surf Life Saving clubs.	Surf Life Saving Taranaki	1-2 years	Surf Lifesaving Taranaki manager YATA Sport Taranaki	All surf lifesaving clubs and representative teams access information and advice to carry out their obligation of promoting the safe use of alcohol. Increased rate of compliance from licenced sports club premises resulting from DLA/Police inspections.
(1.11) To achieve improved standards in assessment and management for youth with alcohol abuse issues.	Undertake liaison with key youth services and alternative education providers around alcohol related harm, information and best practice.	Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services	On-going	TDHB - Youth Alcohol and Drug Worker	Alcohol issues are identified, and persons affected offered appropriate help, advice or referral to specialist services.
(1.12) To lead by example as a responsible host.	To review the existing responsible host principles and guidance, and to promote it as part of staff induction, information to managers and organisers of staff functions.	Taranaki District Health Board New Plymouth District Council Police	On-going	Public Health Unit and Human Resources, Risk Management teams at TDHB NPDC social club Police social club	Internal audit shows a high level of awareness of host responsibility within the DHB. Less incidents at staff functions and events.

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