Alcohol Awareness Week starts today (Monday 19th October) and the Isle of Man is joining England and Wales to highlight the issues surrounding alcohol misuse.
As part of their efforts to raise awareness, the Chief Minister's Drug and Alcohol Strategy has launched a website - www.bealcoholaware.com - which encourages people to know their drinking limits.
Strategy co-ordinator Margaret O’Reilly explains, "Alcohol Awareness Week is an ideal opportunity for us to highlight the excellent work that is being done on the Isle of Man."
Bealcoholawareiom.com has interactive pages for all age groups in the community.
It includes contact numbers for local organisations who offer help to people experiencing problems with drink. The website features sections on safer drinking, risky drinking and includes interactive tests aimed at dispelling some common myths about alcohol.
The Drug and Alcohol Strategy, which unites the work of 22 different agencies across the Island, is also focused on taking its message into the community.
"We are planning events throughout the year, highlighting the risks and effects of alcohol misuse targeted at different age groups," says Margaret.
Schools and communities across the Island have participated in roadshows and other health promotions undertaken by a number of Island agencies working together including the government, voluntary agencies and the industry.
The next event will be at Ramsey Grammar School’s Health Fair on 10th November.
Bill Malarkey MHK, the Department of Home Affairs Member with responsibility for the Strategy, comments, "Alcohol Awareness Week gives us an opportunity to promote the work of the Strategy but we don’t overlook the fact that there will be ongoing initiatives throughout the year, thanks to the work of many agencies and the industry in helping us develop ways to assist people in their efforts to reduce misuse of alcohol in our community."
Work on alcohol awareness has included feedback from focus groups across the community, including a group of 18-year-olds, whose input will steer the future direction of the Strategy for that age group, while one of the forthcoming initiatives is to form a focus group of parents to specify what aspects of the current strategy work best and what they would like to see targeted in the future.
Additionally, art foundation students at Isle of Man College are designing alcohol awareness posters for the 2010 campaign, which will be unveiled in January.
Department of Education Drug and Alcohol Liaison Officer Orla O’Donoghue says, "Many agencies, including charity organisations, are joining together to deliver more alcohol awareness initiatives.
"Classes available include How To Drug Proof Your Kids and talks with parents of children during their transition year between primary and secondary education.
"It’s a very broad strategy, building on each other’s work that targets people in the community at different stages of their life."
