The Winds of Change Steering Committee, thanks to funding from BC Healthy Communities, is currently developing a Community Alcohol Policy (CAP) on behalf of the three local jurisdictions – the Village of Pemberton, Lil’wat Nation and Squamish Lillooet Regional District Area C (SLRD).

You can contribute to this policy by taking the time to fill out the Community Alcohol Policy Survey. The online survey can be accessed at:

http://fluidsurveys.com/s/CAPSurvey/

The survey closing date has been extended to April 10.

Given that she has posed a bunch of questions to community members through the survey, we asked Project Coordinator Margaret Forbes if she would return the favour and answer ours.

1. Who are you?

I live in Whistler and have been involved in several community consultation projects in the Corridor related to social policy initiatives on topics that include: affordable housing, violence against women, and health transportation. I moved to Whistler 3 years ago for my husband’s work and have been working as an independent consultant and researcher since I arrived.

2. Why participate in the Community Alcohol Policy survey?

The survey is a great opportunity for community members to participate in shaping local policy that will have an impact on their community. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and the feedback from those who completed indicated it was a helpful and thought-provoking exercise.

3. So, a community alcohol policy. Does that mean another layer of regulations and restrictions?

Each local government has policies around special occasion licensing already and BC’s liquor laws also direct how events are run. The CAP is intended to provide more consistency, identify and mitigate potential risk areas rather than add another layer of regulations restrictions.

4. Was this triggered by any particular incident?

No. This policy strengthens what is already in place in the communities, while addressing potential liability exposure at the local government level due to problems that could arise from the over-consumption of alcohol. It has not been implemented due to specific alcohol misuse problems, but as a harm reduction strategy.

5. What does harm reduction mean? I always thought it was about finding ways for addicts to do less harm to themselves? How does a CAP contribute to that? What would be the alternative approach?

Harm reduction refers to policies, programs and practices that aim to reduce the adverse health, social, and economic consequences of substance use (in this case alcohol).

An example beyond the CAP of a harm-reduction strategy would be the “Dry Grad” initiative that BC students have adopted to minimize the risk at graduation celebrations. Another example would be the designated driver program.

An alternative approach would be a zero-tolerance or abstinence type policy approach. For obvious reasons, these are not typically the approaches taken for community based policies for licensed events.

6. It’s quite unique, isn’t it, to be developing a community alcohol policy for three different jurisdictions. Is there a risk of trying to be too one-size-fits-all, given the differences between the three?

Winds of Change is a collaborative initiative of the Village of Pemberton, Lil’wat Nation, Area C of the SLRD with a mandate to address the harms associated with addictions in our communities. Part of the intent of the community consultation including the survey, is to get a better understanding of alcohol related issues in the local communities and provides community members an opportunity to identify problems that they feel need addressing.

Daniel Sailland, CAO, Village of Pemberton explains the uniqueness of our local community policy initiative in BC: “We are referring to it as a Community Alcohol Policy (CAP) versus a Municipal (MAP) as this initiative really is about three different communities (VoP, SLRD and LwN) working collaboratively on a common initiative. Although the Municipal Alcohol policy is a good reference point this specific kind of project is a first and as such we cannot, with all certainty, predict what the actual final policy will look like.”

This CAP’s main intent is to designate facilities and events where special event licenses are available, management at these licensed events in community owned facilities and properties, signage and prevention strategies. This is an evidence based policy approach that helps to reduce liability exposure for local overnment.

Part of the intent of the community consultation including the survey, is to get a better understanding of alcohol related issues in the local communities. It provides community members an opportunity to identify problems that they feel need addressing. This policy will not address all the issues that may be identified on the survey, but it can provide Winds of Change with community feedback to help determine future community supports and initiatives to focus on.

7. Who will be most impacted by the CAP? Is it, in essence, to provide guidelines so people like the Friends of the Library (who host an annual Wine and Cheese), the Arts Council who host MADE as an adult-only art show with martini bar, the Slow Food Cycle weekend (with Beer Garden, previous night’s TwoAcreShaker at the Rodeo Grounds), the Rodeo etc, all have a similar process when they have to apply for an event permit?

Yes, that is correct. Through public consultation and survey information, the CAP committee will compile a list of properties owned by the Village of Pemberton, Lil’wat Nation and SLRD, and specify which facilities require special event licensing and which facilities are not appropriate for alcohol to be served at. It will also include signage recommendations, prevention strategies and enforcement procedures.
8. How do I know if my opinion/thoughts are what you’re looking for?

The survey requires no special knowledge or skills to complete. We are looking for the opinions and perspectives of community members to help shape the community alcohol policy based on local priorities. It is important for community members to have their say by taking the Community Alcohol Survey. This provides them with the opportunity to shape the policy and its direction. The development of the CAP is also intended to start a conversation about alcohol use in the community and to mobilize the community on other aspects of alcohol abuse.

In addition to the community survey, I am also interviewing key stakeholders such as: RCMP, youth workers, recreation and facilities staff, health workers, business, tourism and event management sector to a variety of perspectives on the topic.

9. How many surveys have been completed so far?

There have been 95 surveys completed to date. Our goal is 150 with good representation from each community.

10. If I don’t fill out a survey, will I still be able to provide comment or feedback on the policy?

Yes! There will be opportunities for people to comment on the draft Community Alcohol Policy by May 2014 prior it being reviewed and hopefully adopted by local government. Once we have a final draft we will circulate that information through this site for people to review and comment on.

11. Finally, what are some of the most interesting/unexpected things you’ve learned/heard so far?

Of those who have completed the survey over 60% support the CAP and 25% were unsure about it. That is pretty good for a new policy initiative. Much of the feedback indicates that people appreciate the initiative and feel it is a good idea. They also have indicated they appreciate the conversation it has started in the three communities. Very few of the survey respondents or stakeholders nterviewed were opposed to the policy.