Alcohol Policy Advocacy
Alcohol Policy Advocacy
A healthy lifestyle does not only depend on individual behaviour. Policies and societal structures must support safe and healthy communities. Inadequate alcohol policies constitute a main reason for increased alcohol harm among vulnerable communities. IBC, therefore, trains Blue Cross organisations mainly in Africa to enable them to conduct effective alcohol policy advocacy.
Intervention Strategy
The training includes targeted coaching on evidence-based community responses to alcohol problems and training on the use of different forums and media in advocacy. In addition, IBC provides monitoring and tailor-made local guidance on advocacy implementation. The main targets are to restrict access to retailed alcoholic beverages and implement comprehensive alcohol advertising, promotion and sponsorship bans.
IBC employs two experts in African alcohol policy advocacy to achieve its goals.
IBC also works directly with vulnerable communities and municipalities to teach them how to advocate more effectively for better legal frameworks and how to improve the quality of life in their communities. The resulting engagement also helps to raise public awareness of addiction and treat people suffering from addiction with more understanding and less judgement.
The World Health Organization confirms that when governments implement evidence-based alcohol policies effectively, alcohol-related morbidity and mortality rates decrease, resulting in a healthier society.
