Advocating for Reducing Alcohol Harm
CAYAD has been working on advocating to local and central government for important changes to alcohol legislation and regulation, as well as engaging and supporting communities to share their stories.
As part of this wider mahi, CAYAD is involved in several networks and forums to explore advocacy and action options around reducing harm from alcohol, including the Alcohol Sports Sponsorship Forum, Auckland Safety Collective, Central City Community Safety and Alcohol Harm Network, National CAYAD Alcohol Policy Working Group and a South Auckland Alcohol Harm Collective.
CAYAD also co-convenes the Auckland Council Internal Alcohol Harm Minimisation Strategy, offering insight and advice to the steering group made up of kaimahi across departments in Auckland Council and Auckland Transport.
Currently there are several significant opportunities for positive change to alcohol legislation and regulation. Firstly, the Minister of Justice has indicated that his office would look at reviewing the current alcohol laws in 2022. This review could lead to meaningful changes in the law that would reduce alcohol-related harms.
Furthermore, a private member’s Harm Minimisation Amendment Bill which could restrict alcohol advertising in sports and improve the local alcohol policy process has been drafted and is awaiting its turn in parliament. Finally, Alcohol Council has opened consultations for its signage bylaw, which includes looking at how we regulate alcohol signage and advertising in Tāmaki Makaurau.
To support communities to share their stories with local and central government, CAYAD is working with a storyteller to capture community stories of lived experience, ongoing challenges and positive change. We will use the stories as part of a wider campaign to raise awareness of alcohol related harm that happens at an individual and community level. Stories will be shared through social media, directly with politicians, in community and political forums, and may also be shared with contacts in the media.
We have also developed a postcard campaign, aimed at making sharing feedback and stories with our central government politicians, including the Minister of Justice simpler and more accessible. This postcard campaign is currently available online.
Finally, we are engaging communities to share their feedback on the Auckland Council consultation on alcohol advertising. More information on that is available at this link www.protectourfutures.org.nz.