Alcohol is a popular product, consumed by a large proportion of adults who associate it with relaxation or celebration. Alcohol is also a significant component in some local economies, providing stable employment opportunities for managers and service staff.
But there is another side to this story. Excessive or inappropriate alcohol use is resulting in substantial harms in our communities. The costs—to individuals, businesses, communities and the health care system—are considerable.
Alcohol-related problems in our society are more than a matter of personal responsibility. An individual’s choices about alcohol—including when, where and how to drink it—are strongly influenced by social and environmental factors in their community.
The Helping Municipal Governments resource contains a series of tools that provide information on effective strategies, advice on implementation, checklists and questions to guide the process, and stories from other communities.
Available tools to help municipal governments make a difference: