Priorities for 2008

This year the Council has decided not to identify priorities as we have done in the last five years. Instead we would like Researchers & Developers to choose their own priority area and submit proposals that are likely to make a difference and are well evaluated.

The deadline for submissions was September 5th. Advice on 2009 grants will be posted on this website on March 31st 2009.

More information on the bidding process can be found here.

AERC Priorities

Community Action

This was a priority in 2003-4.

Community action programmes are becoming increasingly accepted as key health promotion initiatives to deal with alcohol related issues. Such programmes move away from placing the responsibility solely on individuals and their families and promote community ownership of problems and solutions. They aim to change policies and structures within communities that maintain high levels of alcohol related harm. They empower communities to promote their own well being and to reduce distress caused to them by intoxicated and rowdy behaviour and by irresponsible selling of alcohol, which encourages such behaviour. They might focus upon community mobilisation, responsible beverage service in licensed premises to reduce the risk of having intoxicated and underage customers in bars or restaurants, reduced availability of alcohol being sold to minors, as well as drink driving and media campaigns. Many communities are beginning to develop partnerships to reduce alcohol-related problems.

A focus upon this priority has resulted in the funding of the UK Community Alcohol Prevention Project (UKCAPP).

Find out more in AERC Final Report 39 PDF Document UKCAPP: an evaluation of 3 UK Community Alcohol Prevention Programs.

Strengthening Families

This was a priority in 2004 & 2005.

Approaches designed to strengthen families have the potential to prevent alcohol misuse. The focus could be population based so that any family might be involved or the focus could be upon families at risk. Families at risk have major problems such as severe and recurrent family conflict, and poor parent-child relationships. Children with ineffective coping skills as well as those with little connection to family members, or school may be at an increased risk for alcohol abuse and/or dependence. There are several different intervention models and evaluation methodologies but most of the research has been completed in the US.

Families at risk may be those already experiencing an alcohol problem. Children who grow up in environments where one or both parents misuse alcohol tend to develop physical and psychological problems themselves. Families as a whole are also often badly affected when a key member (spouse, parent, child) develops a serious alcohol problem. There is some evidence that interventions with families and children can be effective and also that generic health and social care workers can implement them.

Find out more about this priority in AERC Final Report 22 PDF Document Implementation of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) 10-14 in Barnsley: The Perspectives of Facilitators and Families.

And AERC Final Report 42 PDF Document Preventing Alcohol and Drug Misuse in Young People: Adaptation and Testing of the Strengthening Families Programme 10-14 (SFP10-14) for use in the United Kingdom.