Be alcohol aware

Galway schools, companies and community groups are being asked to take part in Ireland’s first Alcohol Awareness Week from Monday 18 to Friday 22 March.

The Alcohol Forum, a national charity working to reduce alcohol-related harm, is spearheading a new awareness campaign and is asking schools, community groups, organisations, companies and individuals in Galway to host an event or mark the upcoming Alcohol Awareness Week in some way.

It’s hoped the new campaign will raise further awareness and challenge communities to re-evaluate their role in tackling Ireland’s harmful drinking culture.

Alcohol Forum Chairman, Pat Harvey says, “We have developed a series of products to support communities help themselves when it comes to reducing alcohol-related harms. The evidence is that communities have a major role to play in starting a process of mindset and culture change.

“Over the past number of years the Alcohol Forum has worked on developing a toolkit for community groups and organisations, some of which will be launched during Alcohol Awareness Week.”
These products, available through the Alcohol Forum, include a Festival Care Guide, Spirit of Sport and a Community Mobilisation Toolkit.

A series of events will take place throughout the week including a conference entitled, “The Power of Local Community in Reducing Harmful Drinking’, which will run alongside Ireland’s National Healthcare Conference taking place in the National Convention Centre Dublin on Wednesday 20 March.

Organisations around the country are invited to host their own alcohol awareness event in association with National Alcohol Awareness Week and details of all events will be added to the calendar. There are also plans to launch a 5km run and walk fundraiser later in the year.

For more information on National Alcohol Awareness Week and the National Alcohol Conference log onto www.alcoholforum.org. To register for the conference or to register an event for Alcohol Awareness Week call 074-9125596 or email info@alcoholforum.org.

Source: galwayindependent.com, 13/03/13