Drink safe community initiative

• Reach:

  NSW

• Focus area:

  Mainstream

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

The Drink safe community initiative has been running programs in Broken Hill, New South Wales (NSW) since 2008, to promote community awareness and educate young people on the dangers of binge drinking. The main goals are to reduce youth binge drinking by providing young people with the knowledge to make informed choices in relation to alcohol and levels of intoxication, increase the social acceptance among young people of choosing to drink responsibly, and develop a model for a 'Drink safe community'.

The initiative consists of several separate alcohol and other drug programs:

• community events - including workshops and program presentations by professional guest speakers
• Year 9 and 11 drug and alcohol forums - delivered to students from Broken Hill, Menindee and Wilcannia
• Save a mate - a harm minimisation program for young people, focusing on alcohol and other drug use and their effects
• Aboriginal focused programs - culturally appropriate projects and workshops
• Schoolies party safe packs - from a previously piloted program (2007), delivered locally to all Year 12 graduates, consisting of a back pack containing information and resources that help reduce the risks associated with end of year activities
• Safe party packs (MYNITE) - for young people who register upcoming parties on the MYNITE police website: packs consist of resources to assist in conducting a safe party, e.g. water and wristbands
• Community drink safe display kits and community boards - portable interactive kits including an electronic message board, an interactive touch screen display and banners
• social marketing programs - such as a two year community program with local media including Southern Cross Television (regional coverage), Hype FM, ABC (regional and state coverage), Hill FM, 2BH, Community Radio 2DRYFM and local print media
• Safe passage program - a DVD based program that brings together key 'parenting in the alcohol and other drug age' concepts
  
• taxi cards - safety strategy to decrease drink driving and risk taking behaviour of walking alone.

Abstract adapted from Broken Hill Youth Interagency

Contacts

Scott Hammond
Chairperson
Broken Hill Community Drug Action Team
479 Crystal Street
PO Box 448
Broken Hill NSW 2880
Ph: (08) 8080 3591
Fax: (08) 8088 6199
E-mail: youthofficer@ceinternet.com.au

Links

• View article: Binge drinking program reduces emergency department presentations
• View information: Broken Hill Community Drug Action Team
• View information: Drink safe community initiative