Table 1 IARD Working Together toolkit: opportunities afforded by potential partners
Sector | Opportunity afforded |
|---|---|
Government Sectors | Work with providers of the regulatory framework to address, “harmful drinking” and also, “promote the benefits of alcohol as an economic resource” with e.g., “agriculture, trade, transportation, or tourism” |
Public health bodies | “… have a powerful voice in matters of health policy … an opportunity to demonstrate what types of approaches to reduce harmful drinking work in different economic, social, and cultural settings” |
Nongovernmental Organisations (NGOs) | “… can play a substantial role in advocacy and shaping policy… working with targeted populations, possible access to community gatekeepers … may serve as a ‘local’ stakeholder to nonlocal industry organizations, or may already have projects in place that need support”. Experience of planning and implementation “on the ground”. “They may also have extensive networks that can be put to good use.” |
Community-based organizations (CBOs) | Community ties and access to gatekeepers to help target particular neighbourhoods or populations |
Academia | Work with those who, “provide recommendations based on best practices and … evidence-based alcohol advice … well respected as experts … strive for transparency and high ethical standards.” |
Media | “The media may help the industry build trust … can be a powerful ally in educating the public by bringing positive attention to the various initiatives of the alcohol industry.” |
Public interest groups | “… increasingly aware of some of the unintended, negative consequences of whole-population approaches to alcohol control favored by an important sector of the public health community, and might be open to innovative or promising interventions targeting vulnerable groups.” |
Professional associations | “… are recognizing that interventions targeting at-risk populations are necessary to deal with alcohol-related harm … the scientific evidence that they deal with contains fewer gray areas … interested in providing accurate and balanced information to their audiences and constituencies.” |
Consumer organizations | “… take into account what the general population actually wants, without necessarily adopting an advocacy position. They are also most interested in freedom of choice for their constituents” |