Prevalence and acceptability of public health initiatives in licensed premises.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and acceptability of public health initiatives in licensed premises.


METHODS
Licensees/managers of all 333 licensed premises in the Hunter Region of NSW were interviewed to assess the practice of, and interest in undertaking public health initiatives relating to: responsible service of alcohol; environmental tobacco smoke; healthy-food choices; skin, breast and cervical cancer prevention; and the prevention of HIV/AIDS.


RESULTS
Ninety eight percent of contacted premises participated in the study. Approximately two-thirds of premises reported having a responsible service of alcohol policy and training their staff in responsible service. One third of premises reported the provision of healthy food choices and smoke-free areas. Initiatives concerned with the prevention of cancer and HIV/AIDS were practised by less than 25% of premises. Between 41% and 85% of premises expressed an interest in undertaking all but two initiatives. Almost all interested premises accepted the offer of resources to facilitate adoption of public health initiatives.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that licensed premises are already involved in a number of public health initiatives, and that they appear willing to consider the introduction of a wide range of such initiatives.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of public health initiatives in licensed premises, and the extent of interest expressed by licensees/managers in undertaking such initiatives suggests that both a need and an opportunity exist for public health and other agencies to be more actively involved in disseminating appropriate services in this setting.
Hunter Centre for Health Advancement, New South Wales. jwiggers@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
J
J
Wiggers
R
R
Considine
J
J
Daly
T
T
Hazell
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000517:prevention & control; D003625:Data Collection; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012147:Restaurants; D000074606:Smoking Prevention