Dublin 8 Launches WHO-Backed Safer Alcohol Program to Combat Community Harm
The canal communities of Bluebell, Dolphin’s Barn, Inchicore, and the wider Dublin 8 area have taken a significant step toward reducing alcohol-related harms with the launch of the Building SAFER Communities initiative. This program, grounded in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) SAFER package, aims to empower local residents with evidence-based measures that curtail alcohol misuse and foster healthier lifestyles.
At the launch event, community members gathered to witness a unified response to alcohol-related challenges. Key figures at the event included Dr. Aisling Sheehan of the HSE, Superintendent Dave Butler of An Garda Síochána, Anne Doyle from the Health Research Board, Norah Byrne of the Canal Communities Regional Addiction Service, and Orla Fagan from Irish Community Action on Alcohol. Adding further momentum to the occasion were Sinn Féin Councillor Daithi Doolan and Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins, who both underscored the necessity of a community-led approach. The day was also marked by moving musical contributions from the Recovery Choir and the Dolphin House Choir, which set an inspiring tone for the proceedings.
Understanding the SAFER Initiative
The Building SAFER Communities program is directly inspired by the WHO’s SAFER initiative—a framework introduced in 2018 dedicated to implementing the most cost-effective strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm. The acronym SAFER encapsulates five key strategies:
- Strengthen restrictions on alcohol availability: Enforcing policies to limit the sale and distribution of alcohol, thereby reducing easy access for high-risk groups.
- Advance and enforce drink-driving countermeasures: Implementing measures such as sobriety checkpoints and strict low blood alcohol level controls.
- Facilitate access to screening, brief interventions, and treatment: Enhancing the capacity of health services to identify and support individuals at risk through early intervention.
- Enforce comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising, sponsorship, and promotion: Minimizing public exposure to alcohol marketing, especially among youth.
- Raise prices on alcohol through excise taxes and pricing policies: Using fiscal measures to discourage harmful consumption behaviors.
By adapting these global strategies to address the distinct challenges faced by Dublin 8 communities, the initiative seeks to build a safer and more resilient local framework for dealing with alcohol-related issues.
A Community-Driven Future
Local research presented during the event revealed the pressing nature of the problem, with many residents reporting that alcohol use was directly impacting family dynamics and financial stability. The Building SAFER Communities initiative is set to roll out across 12 communities in Ireland over the next three years, backed by seven local and regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces. This ambitious expansion underscores the commitment of community leaders to not only mitigate the immediate harms of alcohol misuse but also to lay the groundwork for a healthier future.
