?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drugsandalcohol.ie%2F5263%2F&rft.title=National+alcohol+policy+Ireland.&rft.subject=Problem+drugs+and+alcohol+use&rft.subject=Ireland&rft.subject=Alcohol&rft.subject=Policy+on+drugs+and+alcohol&rft.description=The+National+Alcohol+Policy+is+directed+at+reducing+the+prevalence+of+alcohol-related+problems+through+an+emphasis+on+moderation+in+alcohol+consumption.+The+importance+of+a+comprehensive+alcohol+policy+was+highlighted+when+Ireland+endorsed+the+European+Charter+on+Alcohol+in+December+1995+along+with+48+other+Member+States+of+the+WHO+European+Region.+The+alcohol-related+problems+are+multidimensional%2C+therefore+the+solutions+most+be+multi-sectoral.+This+means+that+commitment+to+the+National+Alcohol+Policy+must+be+on+the+agenda+of+policy+makers+in+all+sectors+and+at+all+levels.%0D%0A%0D%0AAn+Alcohol+Policy+requires+both+environmental+and+individual+strategies.+There+is+strong+evidence+that+policies+which+influence+access+to+alcohol%2C+control+pricing+through+taxation+and+other+public+health+measures%2C+can+have+a+positive+impact+on+curtailing+the+health+and+social+burden+resulting+from+drinking+(Edwards+et+al.+1994).+However%2C+a+key+to+the+effectiveness+of+such+strategies+is+public+support%2C+enforcement+and+maintenance+of+the+policies.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn+examining+the+rationale+for+a+National+Alcohol+Policy+a+number+of+elements+have+been+identified.+Research+is+urgently+required+to+identify+attitudes+and+patterns+of+alcohol+consumption+across+the+population+and+within+sub-groups+of+the+population.+Based+on+sound+research%2C+a+sensible+drinking+message+of+Less+is+Better+should+form+an+educational+empowerment+programme+with+regional+and+local+initiatives+as+a+required+and+integral+part+of+such+a+campaign.+A+health+education+programme+in+all+schools+should+be+part+of+the+core+curriculum.+The+availability+and+effectiveness+of+treatment+services+need+to+be+established.%0D%0A%0D%0AAction+to+contain+the+availability+of+alcohol+could+be+achieved+by+reducing+the+number+of+special+exemptions+for+longer+opening+hours+and+controlling+access+to+underage+drinking+by+ID+schemes+nation-wide.+The+enforcement+of+drink+driving+legislation+including+random+breath+testing+needs+to+be+continued+to+reduce+alcohol-related+traffic+accidents.+All+levels+of+the+Drinks+Industry+should+recognise+that+people+have+the+right+to+be+safeguarded+from+pressures+to+drink.+Finally%2C+a+National+Alcohol+Policy+could+be+co-ordinated+by+a+wider+National+Substance+Use+Surveillance+Unit.&rft.publisher=Stationery+Office&rft.date=1996&rft.type=Report&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drugsandalcohol.ie%2F5263%2F1%2F1255-1014_National_Alcohol_Policy.pdf&rft.identifier=++++++Ireland.+Department+of+Health.+++++++++++(1996)+++National+alcohol+policy+Ireland.+++++++Dublin%3A+Stationery+Office.+++++++