Conference Focusing on Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm
PRESS RELEASE
TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2007

Preventing intoxication on licensed premises is just one of the topics under discussion at a two day conference to be hosted by the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) in Christchurch next month.

“This will be the tenth Working Together Conference which is a significant milestone, offering the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of a decade focused on reducing alcohol-related harm,” says ALAC Chief Executive Officer Gerard Vaughan.

“The conference theme is Moving Forward Together. Participants already enrolled cover a wide range of groups involved in reducing alcohol-related harm including representatives from the Police and public health, district licensing inspectors, members of the hospitality industry, researchers, trainers, council planners and policy makers, councillors, Māori wardens, Māori health providers, Pacific providers, injury prevention and safer community co-ordinators.

“The conference will promote communication and partnerships, provide a forum for discussion and debate of critical issues, and present, demonstrate and showcase examples of innovative and effective national and local action,” Mr Vaughan says.

Topics in the stream sessions range from reducing intoxication on licensed premises to looking at whether the current monitoring and enforcement system is working. There is also a panel session on the sale and supply of alcohol to under 18-year-olds. Associate Minister of Health Damien O’Conner will address the conference on the first day.

Topics covered by other keynote speakers include a look at the situation in Scotland from Alcohol Focus Scotland’s Chief Executive Jack Law; drug courts in New Zealand from Judge John Walker; the Police Action Plan a year on from Police Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Rob Pope; and Christchurch City Councillor Bob Parker on the role of local authorities in reducing alcohol-related harm.

There will be an opportunity for sector groups to meet on May 2, prior to the conference proper, which runs from May 3 to 4 at the Rydges Hotel Christchurch. Registrations are filling fast with registrations closing on April 24. For more information go to www.alac.org.nz

ENDS

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