Preventing alcohol-related harm
Making a difference in young people's drinking
As a parent or caregiver, there are things you can do to help reduce the impact of alcohol on your teen. Keeping them safe is part of being a parent and your advice and support is critical even though it is not always welcome.
Key messages about alcohol for parents and caregivers to give to young people
- Parents and young people should discuss guidelines about alcohol use, with the aim of setting a household standard not to drink alcohol before the age of 18. The earlier you do this in a child’s life the better. Setting clear standards of behaviour and rules about drinking will support your child to be able to resist peer pressure regarding alcohol. See The Smart Generation, Deakin University
- For children and young people under 18 years of age, not drinking alcohol is the safest option.
If young people are currently drinking alcohol, they should try and stop drinking or reduce the amount of alcohol they consume (NHMRC Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Alcohol)
- Parents should not provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 18:
- Have a good relationship with your teen so that you can talk openly about alcohol, drugs and other issues.
- For further help on how to have ‘the other talk’ about alcohol and drugs with your children, check out the helpful online tools and information developed by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
Council initiatives to prevent alcohol-related harm
Council is actively involved in a range of initiatives aimed at preventing harm from alcohol and other drugs.
Maroondah Liquor Accord
The Maroondah Liquor Accord brings together licensees of hotels, restaurants/cafes, clubs, packaged liquor outlets, cinemas, small business and sporting clubs, together with Council, Victoria Police and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. The Accord encourages and promotes best practice and high standards of behaviour that contribute to patron, staff and community safety in venues across Maroondah. Membership is voluntary and open to all licensees within Maroondah. For more information, visit Maroondah Liquor Accord.
EMR Action on Alcohol Flagship Group
A partnership of 15 agencies in the Eastern Metropolitan Region, including local governments, community health and other agencies, who are committed to a preventative approach to reducing harm from alcohol.
Flagship partners do this through advocacy, awareness raising, policy change and improved planning. Successful projects have included:
- Understanding the risks of underage drinking on the adolescent brain – a train-the-trainer project delivered to 243 community workers, police, educators and others in the EMR.
- Sporting Club Project – delivering training to sporting club players and parents on the risks of underage drinking and strategies to reduce underage drinking in sporting clubs.
- Your Shout: Action on Alcohol Conference – a dynamic one-day conference attended by more than 150 state/local government, community members, police and industry representatives that highlighted research, barriers and strategies for influencing the supply and management of alcohol.
Responsible Service of Alcohol training
This training course is delivered on an annual basis to members of Maroondah sporting clubs. Completing an approved Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) program gives participants the skills and knowledge to ensure our licensed premises are safe and enjoyable for everyone. The RSA program covers a range of topics including:
- problems associated with excessive consumption
- alcohol and the law
- the question of who is responsible for RSA
- facts about alcohol
- improving the atmosphere of your premises
- handling difficult customers
Collaborative approach to Liquor Licensing
Council applies a consultative and an integrated approach to the location and operation of licensed venues in Maroondah, in collaboration with Victoria Police. Applications for liquor licences are generally reviewed by a number of teams across Council to ensure ‘best fit’ and a healthy balance between vibrant and safe neighbourhoods and patron and community safety.