An event took place in Cork recently to mark the launch of ‘Communities in Action, Reducing Alcohol Harm in Cork and Kerry 2025-2030’.
The strategy, launched in September, aims to reduce harm caused by alcohol across the region, and prioritises public health, improved health and social outcomes for individuals, families and communities, and considerably reduced morbidity and mortality from alcohol consumption.
A joint initiative between HSE South West, the Cork and Kerry Alcohol Strategy Group, the Southern Drug and Alcohol Taskforce and the Local Drug and Alcohol Taskforce, the strategy is themed across five topics: policy; health information; community action; services’ response and monitoring/evaluation.
This event, which took place at Nano Nagle Place, Cork city, recognises the fact that Cork is one of two SAFER community projects in the region, and 12 across the country. The SAFER project uses the World Health Organisation five SAFER package of measures to provide practical interventions at community level. SAFER stands for: Strengthening restrictions on alcohol availability; Advancing and enforcing drink driving measures; Facilitating access to screening, treatment and brief interventions and; Enforcing bans or comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising, sponsorship and promotion, and raising prices on alcohol through excise tax and pricing policies.
