Archive for January, 2009
An innovative programme designed to reduce repeat offending amongst young adult offenders has produced promising results.
The Whanganui-a-Tara Courts and Health (WATCH) project began in October 2006, started service delivery in early 2007 and has now been running for over a year in Wellington. The project was developed and guided by an inter-sectoral working group and was funded by Capital & Coast District Health Board (C&CDHB), Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development. Wesley Community Action was contracted as the host organisation for the service. continue reading »
January 13 2009 | Community Programmes | No Comments »
The recent history of alcohol law reform has seen the lowering of the alcohol purchase age from 20 years to 18 years, the increasing proliferation of supermarkets and dairies selling wine and beer, Sunday trading and longer opening hours for licensed premises.
A comprehensive review of the sale and supply of liquor was announced in August 2008. The review is being conducted by the Law Commission. President of the Law Commission, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer is overseeing the process. Sir Geoffrey says, “the Law Commission will conduct this review with vigour and energy.”
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January 12 2009 | Policy and Legislation | 1 Comment »
The way that alcohol is consumed at large-scale public events can send powerful signals about the acceptability (or otherwise) of alcohol related behaviours. Indeed, because they are sometimes televised or reported on, such messages can often be far reaching. The characteristics of such events can also create the conditions in which problems associated with alcohol become magnified or quickly escalate from individual incidents to widespread disorder and violent confrontations involving significant numbers of people. A mix of too much alcohol, jostling crowds, boorish behaviour and even boredom can interact to spark ugly clashes at sporting events. Many of the same situational factors, and the carrying of liquor containers as “ready-made missiles”, have also been linked to problems at other large-scale public events, such as New Year’s Eve festivities.
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January 12 2009 | Large Scale Events | No Comments »