When abstracts applications opened for the 6th Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) I was encouraged by the Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (HADP) co-ordinator, Debbie Stewart, to apply to showcase the Discussing Drugs and Alcohol with Young People (DDAYP) training course work.
Much to my surprise, I was accepted to display a poster presentation at the event.
Here I am, displaying the poster, in the Printworks Event and Exhibition Centre, Dublin Castle:
The poster can be viewed on the Highland Substance Awareness website.
The conference was extremely interesting, with expertise and insight from around the world. I took a lot of notes and pictures! I realised we are ahead in some respects with alcohol policy, but there is a way to go to further reduce the influence of the alcohol industry. There are many examples we can learn from, and that others can learn from us.
Here are some conference facts
NB: a number of registrations decided not to attend the conference in relation to the COVID-19 crisis. Ireland went into lockdown on the Friday of the week of the conference.
The presentations and workshops I attended were interesting, motivating, and inspiring. None more so than this panel, entitled ‘Successes and failures in alcohol policy development – lessons learned’, which was led by five women who are experts in their countries and regions; Ireland, Lithuania, South America, Nepal and Australia / UK.
My key learning points from the three day conference were:
- Be wary of any ground the industry tries to take from suggested restrictions
- Even when excellent restrictions are in place, they could be threatened
- Consider any geographical restrictions practically before implementation
- Alcohol can learn a lot from tobacco, and vice versa
- Alcohol is weaponised by abusers (domestic violence and cohersive control)
- Don’t underestimate the ploys that industry will use to look favourable
- We can use Sustainable Development Goals to support our work – tapping into what matters to people helps.
There were some extra activities organised by the conference during lunch time sessions, including walks and visits.
Pictures of the conference surrounds
Outside Dublin Castle
Inside Dublin Castle
Bedford Hall, in Dublin Caste grounds. One of the other buildings used for plenary sessions
