Community Actions to Address Alcohol Problems: Lessons Learned - มาตรการการจัดการปัญกาแอลกอฮอล์ในระดับชุมชน: บทเรียนจากพื้นที่ตัวอย่าง

Abstract

This research studied patterns and processes of alcohol policy community interventions in
selected 13 good-practice communities. Qualitative techniques were employed through in-depth
interviews and focus group discussions with key informants from these communities. It was found
that the ignition of community interventions was largely driven by the linkage between these community
and alcohol policy movements and impacts at macro scale, as well as by community concern
on alcohol-related problems. Many similarities in the policy process of the studies communities
were identified, which allowed a synthesis of major supportive factors and settings for successful
community actions. These were relevant to local culture and context, starting from the easy-to-win
battles which could produce concrete positive outcome, connecting with policy movements at larger
scales, setting networks, creating knowledge sharing mechanisms, creating incentive system, integration
with other sectors and topics, and most of all, platforms for extensive participation. The
process of these good practices showed the extensive involvement and ownership of local people to
the alcohol policy intervention in every stage; from problem structuring, creating collective commitment,
planning, endorsing community rules with consensus, implementation, to monitoring and
evaluation. This study confirms that three mechanisms and processes are crucial for the success and
sustainability of these interventions. These are mechanisms and processes to build up community
involvement, to build up strong linkage with actors and movements outside community, and to
create knowledge management infrastructures and means.
Key words: community intervention, alcohol policy, alcohol, Thailand