Community actions against alcohol drinking in Slovenia--a Delphi study.
OBJECTIVE
To define the national strategy and public actions to reduce alcohol related harm, based on societal consensus.


BACKGROUND
Alcohol abuse is an avoidable behaviour that can threaten health. In Slovenia, only a few public campaigns against drinking alcohol are under way. It is important to establish which community measures are acceptable to society in Slovenia in order to reduce alcohol-related risks.


METHODS
A Delphi study with 45 professionals from different disciplines was conducted. Participants offered many suggestions to improve the current situation. After three rounds of questionnaires, 86 participant statements were accepted as a consensus.


RESULTS
Actions such as: state monopolies, alcohol taxation, legislative restrictions on availability and purchase of alcohol, age-related restriction on sales, drink-driving laws, school-based alcohol education and media information campaigns are most likely to be achieved by consensus. The main target populations for implementation of alcohol-related educational programs are children, young people and employees.


CONCLUSIONS
As a result of the study, a number of community actions against drinking alcohol that could be acceptable for society can now be suggested. They vary across different target populations, change agents (individuals, organizations and institutions) and methods of implementation.
Susic
Tonka Poplas
TP
Medical Faculty, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Poljanski nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. tonka.poplas-susic@mf.uni-lj.si
Svab
Igor
I
Kolsek
Marko
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003697:Delphi Technique; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D017524:Slovenia; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires