The document summarizes preliminary findings from a study evaluating the impact of the Ballymun Alcohol Strategy, which was implemented between 2011-2015 to reduce alcohol-related harm in the area. Key findings include reductions in alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and alcohol-related problems. There was also a decrease in underage drinking and attitudes accepting of children drinking. However, the degree of impact varied between age and gender. While positive changes were seen, fully attributing them to the strategy is difficult, and more analysis is needed to understand the effects of specific implemented measures. Overall, the strategy shows potential to create positive community-level changes around alcohol.

1. CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT
NATIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION ON ALCOHOL
PILOT PROJECT 2015 CAAP©

2. BALLYMUN ALCOHOL STRATEGY
A CASE STUDY
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
HUGH GREAVES CO-ORDINATOR
MARIE LAWLESS POLICY AND RESEARCH OFFICER
BALLYMUN LOCAL DRUG & ALCOHOL TASK FORCE

3. Ballymun’s Road to Change
How FAR travelled?
Overview of Preliminary Findings 2011-2015

4. • In 2009 BLDATF and Safer Ballymun (community policing
forum) brought local statutory, community and voluntary
service providers together to discuss alcohol related harm
in the area at our first ‘Roundtable’ event.
• Agreement to collectively address alcohol related harm in
Ballymun
• A wide range of community, statutory, voluntary agencies
and public representatives agreed to become part of a
collective response to address alcohol related harm/issues
(community mobilisation)
• It was agreed to do so in a ‘community-systemic way’,
addressing the full context in which alcohol harm occurs
(Harold Holder) and learning from effective, evidence
based responses elsewhere
Background

5. Roundtable discussion on alcohol related harm
in Ballymun

6. Approach and Key Principles
STRATEGY APPROACH
• A Strategy that is community wide
• A Strategy informed by a public health approach
• A Strategy that seeks to bring about community level system change by mobilizing the community
• A Strategy that recognises that alcohol is “no ordinary commodity”
• A Strategy that endeavours to reduce alcohol related harm by reducing overall consumption levels.
KEY PRINCIPLES
• community development,
• partnership,
• co-ordination,
• information sharing and;
• monitoring/review

7. So what are we trying to do?
We are trying to reduce alcohol related harm by
• Increasing awareness of alcohol as a community issue – by
local people, local public reps, statutory and voluntary
services/agencies and therefore alter the community’s role
in determining the local alcohol environment (from passive
to proactive)
• Influencing the attitudes and norms of the local population
towards a change in its behaviour around alcohol
• Changing the local environmental systems which foster and
promote a harmful drinking culture

8. Theory of Change…….
• ………. harms will reduce if consumption goes down, which in
turn will occur if there are changes in the economic, physical
and social environment (i.e. affordability, availability and
knowledge and attitudes) in which alcohol is sold and
consumed, and if there are sufficient services in place to
support a large enough proportion of individuals at risk from
their drinking.

9. Policy &
Research
Supply
Reduction,
Availability &
Enforcement
Community
Awareness
Treatment &
Rehabilitation
Prevention
&
Education
Harm
Reduction
43 Actions

10. Household Study on Alcohol
Behaviour & Attitudes
Marie Lawless
Policy & Research Officer
Ballymun Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force

11. Key Question
• How and to what extent has implementing the package of
measures (taken together) contained in the Ballymun Alcohol
Strategy contributed to reducing alcohol-related harms?

12. Methodology
• Baseline study Aug-Sept 2011; 355 interviews, 15 +
• Follow-up study Aug-Sept 2015; 359 interviews, 15 +
• DED’s A-F , representative sample
• Two stage approach to sampling:
– Stratified random selection of geographical points;
– Selection of respondents within geographical points.
• Fieldwork & Analysis undertaken by Ipsos MORI (2011 &
2015)
• Further analysis by Dr. Ann Hope (2011 & 2015)

13. Consumption
Alcohol use in Ballymun
Ballymun 2011
Comparator Ballymun 2015
Overall Overall
Base: (355) (359)
Lifetime 92% 84%*
Last year 83% 77%*
Last month 66% 61%
Abstainers 17% 23%

14. 83
51
32
40
24
11
47
77
45
20
28
17
8
25
Drinkers 6+SD typicacl occ Harm to drinker 1+ Problems RAPS1+ abuse (RAPS2+) dependency
(RAPS3+
Harm to others 1+
percent
Changes in drinking pattern and harms
2011 2015

15. 54
37
15
18
8
3
31
15
6
19
11
2
Problems
Abuse
Dependency
Problems
Abuse
Dependency
15-34yrs 35+yrs
percent
Screening using RAPS:
Women
2011
2015
61
38
17
31
16
9
50
37
21
19
9
7
Problems
Abuse
Dependency
Problems
Abuse
Dependency
15-34yrs 35+yrs
percent
Screening using RAPS:
Men
2011
2015

16. Where alcohol is mainly consumed
Base: all who have consumed alcohol in the last 12 months (293, 2011: 276, 2015)
28
41
10
16
3
1
40
29
14
12
3
0
At a pub or bar in
your local area
At home In the home of
family/ friends
At a pub or bar
outwith your
local area
In a restaurant In the street/
park
Q6a. Where did you mainly drink alcohol in the past 12 months?
2011
2015

17. Q7. How often do you have alcohol delivered to your home via one of the services such as ‘Dial a Can’?
Use of alcohol delivery services
90
3 4 4
% All Ballymun Residents
Never used alcohol
delivery services
Used once or twice
Used once a year or
more
Don't know/ refused/
not stated
2015
Base: all adults (359)
18%
82%
Never
2011

18. Age at which first consumed alcohol
Base: all who have drank alcohol in the last year (272)
1 2 3 4 4 1
7 5 3
7 3 11
6 10
4
15
9
12
29
29
23
33
29
25
31 30
36
23
30
29
23 23
29
18
23
22
3 2 4 1 3
Overall
2011
Overall
2015
Male Female DED A-D DED E-F
Q2. At what age did you first drink alcohol ‘beyond sips or tastes’?
Under 13
13 - 15
16 - 17
18 - 20
21 - 24
25+
Don't
Know
57
55

19. Attitudes towards regular drinking (2011 – 2015)
11
17
17
13
42
2015
Agree strongly Agree a little
Neither agree nor disagree Disagree a little
Disagree strongly
Base: all adults (355, 2011; 359, 2015)
28
55
22
22
8
14
35
2011
Agree strongly Agree a little
Neither agree nor disagree Disagree a little
Disagree strongly
44
48

20. Q. 11 Do you feel it is acceptable or not for parents/relations/family friend to ……..
Attitudes towards children and alcohol (2011 – 2015)
4
1
6
2
2
1
15
18
6
2
45
36
21
14
81
81
94
97
49
62
77
85
1
Buy alcohol for a child aged 16 or 17 (2011)
Buy alcohol for a child aged 16 or 17 (2015)
Buy alcohol for a child aged 15 (2011)
Buy alcohol for a child aged 15 (2015)
Let a child aged 16 or 17 drink alcohol in the child’s home (2011)
Let a child aged 16 or 17 drink alcohol in the child’s home (2015)
Let a child aged 15 drink alcohol in the child’s home (2011)
Let a child aged 15 drink alcohol in the child’s home (2015)
Yes any occasion Yes, special occassions No, never Don't know / refused
Base: all adults (255, 2011; 359, 2015)

21. Alcohol related problems in Ballymun (2011 – 2015)
Base: all adults (355, 2011; 359, 2015)
27
18
25
19
44
30
46
35
53
39
13
10
20
18
17
16
21
22
20
20
20
31
24
34
17
29
15
25
10
20
18
28
27
27
17
23
12
16
12
16
22
13
3
2
5
3
5
2
5
4
Drink driving (2011)
Drink driving (2015)
Adults drinking alcohol in public places (2011)
Adults drinking alcohol in public places (2015)
Alcohol related violence (fights/ assaults) (2011)
Alcohol related violence (fights/ assaults) (2015)
Teenagers drinking on the streets or in parks (2011)
Teenagers drinking on the streets or in parks (2015)
Underage drinking (2011)
Underage drinking (2015)
Very big problem Fairly big problem Not very big problem Not problem at all Don't know
60
57
73
67
45
61
37
46
28
41
37
41
52
61
59
22
28
34
51
37

22. Q.13 To what extent do you agree with these statements about what the Gardaí are doing in relation to alcohol
Response to alcohol issues locally (2011 - 2015)
20
18
23
21
17
18
19
24
20
30
14
22
10
14
13
14
33
21
31
19
The Gardaí are doing a good job in relation to preventing
the sale of alcohol to under 18s (2011)
The Gardaí are doing a good job in relation to preventing
the sale of alcohol to under 18s (2015)
The Gardaí are doing a good job in relation to enforcing
laws on drinking alcohol in public places (2011)
The Gardaí are doing a good job in relation to enforcing
laws on drinking alcohol in public places (2015)
Agree strongly Agree little Neither Disagree little Disagree strongly
Base: all adults (355, 2011; 359, 2015)
44
44
35
37
34
44
34
44

23. 16
18
21
12
67
66
59
62
15
15
20
26
The supervision by local adults/ parents in relation
to young peoples’ drinking behaviour
Adults/ parents awareness of their role in showing
good example around drinking behaviour
The monitoring of local public places in Ballymun
in relation to drinking behaviour
Young people’s (under 18’s) awareness of alcohol
and drinking behaviour
Got better Stayed same Got worse
Alcohol & the Community

24. Alcohol Awareness

25. Seeking help in relation to problems with alcohol
Base: all adults (359)
4
2
3
3
5
6
9
10
28
35
5
4
4
17
6
17
6
33
27
49
55
Other answers
A drug alcohol service outside the area
Would not get help
A helpline
A social worker
A drug alcohol service in the area
Talk to them myself
A counselor/ other kind of therapist
A friend/ someone in their family
A support group such as AA
Doctor/ GP
Q19a. Go for help (Total Awareness)
% Spontaneous mentions % Total mentions
2011
55
66
41
37
34
N/A
15
18
3
14
4

26. Q.10 To what extent do you agree/disagree with these statements about alcohol pricing and advertising?
Pricing and advertising of alcohol (2011 – 2015)
47
38
46
38
77
60
84
68
16
20
12
17
6
16
7
16
6
13
9
13
8
12
4
8
8
13
10
17
4
8
3
6
23
16
22
14
5
3
3
2
There should be a minimum price for alcohol below which it cannot
be sold (2011)
There should be a minimum price for alcohol below which it cannot
be sold (2015)
Price promotions in pubs, bars and clubs that encourage excessive
drinking should be banned (2011)
Price promotions in pubs, bars and clubs that encourage excessive
drinking should be banned (2015)
Alcohol advertising that appeals to young people should be banned
(2011)
Alcohol advertising that appeals to young people should be banned
(2015)
Advertising of alcohol on TV and radio should be confined to after
9pm to protect children (2011)
Advertising of alcohol on TV and radio should be confined to after
9pm to protect children (2015)
Agree strongly Agree little Neither Disagree little Disagree strongly
Base: all adults (355, 2011; 359, 2015)
84
90
77
58
55
84
58
63
29
31
11
8
30
32
9
6

27. Preliminary Results
 Reductions in consumption, heavy episodic drinking, problems, abuse, dependency;
however varies by age and gender
 Change in place of drinking -Pub/bar now most popular place to drink alcohol
 Alcohol deliveries – significant decrease in ever having used “dial a can” services
 Decreases in residents reporting community safety problems associated with alcohol use
 Changes in attitudes around children and alcohol – decrease in those who believe it is
acceptable to let a child aged 15 or less drink alcohol in home/or buy them alcohol
 Reductions in family or relationship difficulties due to someone else’s drinking
 1 in 2 residents believe that Ballymun has become more alcohol aware
 Doctor/GP most cited source of help if required.
 Continued high community support for evidence based measures; MUP, alcohol
advertising restrictions, promotions etc.

28. Summary
• Evidence of positive change - highlights potential of
model to effect change
• Attribution of these changes to the CAS inputs is
difficult
• Limitations: One method of measurement,
sustainability
• Compare against national data
• Explore extent of implementation outcomes
• Explore evidence based positive elements which
have greatest impact locally.

29. CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT
NATIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION ON ALCOHOL
PILOT PROJECT 2015 CAAP©
THE COMMUNITY ACTION ON ALCOHOL PROJECT WAS DESIGNED, DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED BY
ANNE TIMONY MEEHAN, ALCOHOL FORUM