LOCAL RESPONSE TO HARMFUL USE OF ALCOHOL: LESSONS AND CHALLENGES KURESSAARE, SAAREMAA Anu Vares Development Adviser Saaremaa Municipality Government, Estonia WHAT DID WE LEARN? • Local evidence and data help to address the community • Support of local government council and municipality mayor is crucial to implementation of activities • Finding the right spokespersons for alcohol-related topics is very important • It is necessary to talk to youngsters to find out their opinion on alcohol WHAT DID WE LEARN? • Schools can be difficult partners due to many different ongoing activities – thus it is very important to engage a “project manager” within the school • It is complicated to explain the school headmasters that the drug prevention action plan is necessary for the school, not for the local government and the police • Public debate following the project has encouraged other municipalities to plan systematic activities in alcohol prevention WHAT DID WE LEARN? • It is possible to create change at the local level • Cooperation is the crucial power • Will and dedicated people are more important than money • Desired results are not achieved quickly, it takes time and patience • To prevent and to reduce the consumption of alcohol by minors, it is necessary to address activities to adults as well as to change the environment around youngsters • Besides hobby education attention must be paid to children’s and youngsters’ relations with family and friends MAIN CHALLENGES • Where and how to address parents? • What is the role of schools and headmasters? • How to assure motivation of local actors and the continuity of activities? WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN SAAREMAA IN 2018+? • A new and very big municipality (2705 km2, 31 819 residents, 1 city, 9 small towns, 426 villages) • How to use experience gained in 2015–2017 in Kuressaare in other areas of the municipality? LAST, BUT NOT LEAST • Minors drink, but alcohol is made available by adults around them • Our common goal in Kuressaare / Saaremaa: adults do not sell, buy and offer alcohol to minors .