Christchurch Alcohol Action Plan Community Forum 2022
The Christchurch Alcohol Action Plan Community Forum was held in October 2022. The Christchurch Alcohol Action Plan (CAAP) was developed in response to community concern about alcohol-related harm. It provides a collective vision, strategies and actions aimed at achieving a sustained reduction in alcohol-related harm.
The Forum was an excellent opportunity to gather and discuss how move forward towards the goal of a “safe, vibrant, healthy Christchurch free from alcohol-related harm” with speakers highlighted issues and opportunities for action ahead.
Alcohol: The Ripple Effects Forum
The Healthy Christchurch Champions sought information from a number of agencies to familiarise themselves with the issues at both national and local levels before deciding on an Action Plan.
A forum on alcohol was held by Healthy Christchurch in June 2010 entitled "Alcohol: The Ripple Effects". This involved contributions from:
- Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC);
- Safer Christchurch;
- Tri-Agency Liquor Licensing Team (with representatives from Community and Public Health, the Alcohol Licensing division of Christchurch City Council, and the NZ Police);
- a doctor from Christchurch Hospital's Emergency Room; and
- a University of Otago professor at the Christchurch Addictions Centre.
An 8 element Action Plan was developed from this forum. The key actions in that Plan have now been delivered or are being progressed either indirectly or through the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Co-ordinator.
Submissions on the Review of NZ Alcohol Legislation
In 2009 the New Zealand Law Commission undertook an extensive community consultation process as part of its review of the Sale and Supply of Liquor Act and related legislation. Healthy Christchurch signatories endorsed a submission in October 2009 to the Law Commission review process.
Read the 2009 Healthy Christchurch Submission to the Law Commission's Review of Alcohol Legislation [PDF].
Find out more about the NZ Law Commission’s Review of Alcohol Legislation and associated documents.
In February 2011 the Healthy Christchurch Signatories endorsed a further submission to the Select Committee that lead to changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
Read the 2011 Healthy Christchurch submission to the Alcohol Select Committee [PDF].
Local Alcohol research also used to inform action
Research was conducted in 2009 to investigate the pre-loading and drinking behaviours of bar patrons coming in to the Christchurch Central City (the SOL Square Study). Amongst other things the research found that patrons were coming in to town heavily intoxicated.
View the SOL Square Survey 2009 report [PDF].
The Canterbury DHB commissioned the economic analysts from Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) in 2011 to undertake a review to estimate the cost of alcohol to the Canterbury Health System.
Read the BERL report on the costs of harmful alcohol use in Canterbury DHB [PDF].