Reduction of Underage Drinking in the Community - Term Paper Example

Title: Report on community strategy (Reduce Underage Drinking) Name: Registration No.: Institution name: Tutor’s name: Date of Submission: 1. Introduction People globally are becoming increasingly troubled at the rate at which underage drinking is increasing (Kenny, 2006). More than ever, research shows that that the underage groups of individuals are increasingly being exposed to alcoholic drinks. Today’s lifestyle has changed everything on how the youth perceive these alcoholic drinks. It is a lifestyle of influence from many spheres of their lives including their friends and some of their relatives. Many restrictions that are in existence seem to have flopped thus there is a need to review them so as to deal with this problem before it blows out of proportion. In this century, numerous factors are considered to be a fuelling factor in underage drinking. This issue of underage drinking is a matter of global concern thus every community need to give it some serious consideration so as to restore some sense of sanity in the community (Kenny, 2006). It is only through establishment of an all-inclusive work plan that it is possible to reduce underage drinking before it is too late. If the plan is well built with a sense of rationality then it is bound to achieve its goals. The main goal of this paper is to deliver a practical strategy to ensure the reduction of underage drinking in the community (Twelvetrees, 2008). 2. About the Strategy The primary goal of this strategy is to significantly reduce the accessibility of alcoholic drinks by the young persons (Kenny, 2006).This is to be accomplished by imposing underage drinking laws to lessen the accessibility of such drinks by those considered to be underage. These particular strategies is a pre-mediated in a way that it helps the society effectively and efficiently utilize both human and financial wealth to achieve maximum results (Twelvetrees, 2008). It is significant to note that a comprehensively designed work plan will have the capacity to accomplish various tasks such as; Definition of the dimensions of the problem in question, this refers to the nature of the problem to be solved. Given that the problem at hand is a multifaceted issue it will be necessary to define all of its dimensions something that the work plan has the capacity to achieve. Matching of the form of the problem at hand with the approaches that have scientific backup. This is only to mean that the methodologies applied are those that are valid. It has the capacity to provide timelines within which objectives and goals are to be attained. With such an approach there seem to exit a form of certainty given the provided timeframe. Tracking of progress is something of a possibility. This is to imply that after the whole procedure of implementation the stakeholders will be in a position to measure how far they have gone and subsequently determine the remaining distant. This will be necessary for monitoring purposes and this will mean gauging what is being done against what is to be done. 3. Steps in the Development of a Workable Strategy 3.1. Identify all Necessary stakeholders Before commencing any decision making and setting up of action plans it is in order to clearly come with a list of all individuals who are likely involved or even affected with the issue of underage drinking (Kenny, 2006). So as to solve the problem at hand, not any small detail from the stakeholders should be ignored. With the help of these stakeholders necessary information will be obtained and also solutions are likely to be provided. Potential stakeholders include: Parents Youths Agencies of law enforcement Legal representatives for instance the juvenile justice representatives Representatives from the medical department The general public The business society especially vendors of alcoholic drinks The religious communities Local authorities 3.2. Problem Definition The problem at hand is underage drinking. To solve this problem, the knowledge that underage drinking exists within the community is not sufficient (Twelvetrees, 2008). For this, it is necessary to define and outline all the dimensions of this problem at hand. Definition of the problem provides the capacity of learning the causes of underage drinking and also the effects it has at both the personal level and the community level. This process also provides the scope of the problem thus makes the work plan to solve the issue at hand more effective. Underage drinking can be brought about by the peer influences that the youngsters are involved in. this is to mean that there is some form of pressure from peers that makes them to engage in drinking habit at an early age. The effects that underage drinking brings are very evident and some include increased school dropouts and increasing youth gangs. All these come with related consequences like increased insecurity. In general the main purpose of problem definition is to obtain an insight in regard to underage drinking 3.3. Goal Establishment As much as the main goal is to reduce underage drinking it will be vital to set up some other objectives that will lead to attainment of the main goal. What ought be noted and maintained is that all efforts exerted should lead to the achievement main goal. For instance a target should be set to reduce the overall drinking of the whole community. By reducing the overall drinking level of the whole community in a way the specific objective which is to lessen underage drinking will be attained. By having a general objective and a specific objective at the same time chances of attaining the goal will be more of a possibility now. N/B- General Objective: To reduce the overall drinking level within the community. Specific Objective: To reduce underage drinking within the community. 3.4. Data collection This is a very vital step that has to be undertaken to guarantee the success of the efforts that are to be applied. Collection of data will provide the necessary data and information crucial in decision making (Twelvetrees, 2008). Without this process will mean lack of a comprehensive guide to the problem at hand. It is a necessity to collect data from wide reliable sources so as to guarantee the validity of the results to be obtained. Prior to the collection process formation of hypothesis can be done so as to give a rough idea of the situation on the ground. It is through the formulation of an hypothesis that one gets the time to prepare adequately for the real exercise. The sources of data can include both primary and secondary sources implying that the data to be obtained will be inform of both first-hand in addition to secondary data (Baldry, 1991). Primary data is to be collected through direct observation, use of questionnaires and also use of interviews. The secondary data will be obtained by going through the available documents at the authorities. These documents may include those under the custody of the federal departments and the local authorities. Documents necessary include the statements regarding the problem at hand like a statement of underage drinking cases reported within a certain period. Some other documents that might prove to be important include judicial reports on underage drinking. 3.5. Create Action Steps and stipulate who is Accountable Action steps in this context implies to the activities that will consequently guide to the production of outcomes which are measurable in a specific time frame. This phase will also include determining roles to be played by various individuals and concerned groups. Some of the roles to be played by various individual and groups include; Carrying out regular compliance checks. A county authority i.e. a mayor can impose laws on underage drinking so that it is implemented and subsequently enforced. Failure of following the stipulated rules and regulations can lead to legal punishment. Alcohol vendors should be advised to check and verify that those who buy alcoholic drinks are not of underage. The police should launch periodic checkups in pubs and clubs to flush out minors and subsequently take legal action against bar owners who accommodate minors. Community policing should be instigated to help identify victims. Operations to be carried out by the local authorities to arrest illegal vendors of alcoholic drinks. 3.6. Recruitment of Media as a strong Partner With the incorporation of the media in the whole work plan, the achievement of the goal will be something more of a reality. The impact, influence and consequent control that the media boasts of among the masses is something that should not be thrown out of the window. The media will have the role of creating awareness on the activities being carried out while at the same time create awareness on the disadvantages of underage drinking. The media will communicate all the efforts being undertaken to ensure that underage drinking is something of the past. The media will be another platform to accomplish some task like creating awareness on the dangers of underage drinking (Baldry, 1991). 3.7. Identify resources necessary for the implementation process This involves both financial and non-financial resources that are to be used in the work plan. The finances to be used in accessing consultancy services from relevant experts should be determined in advance so as to give some room of determining the sources of such finances. To attain financing the plan has to be viable. Financial aid can be from the local authorities, related non-governmental organizations and also from well-wishers. 3.8. Choose a Timeline It is something wise to select a pre-determined time frame as this gives some sense of direction on what is being done. With a timeline in place the stakeholders possess some hope that words will eventually turn into actions. Compliance checks can be carried out after every two weeks for 9 months. 3.9. Tracking Progress It will always be important to constantly access the impact brought about by the stipulated strategy (Baldry, 1991). This is a necessity for monitoring purposes. The results can be gauged against set standards so as to evaluate whether everything is according to plan. Suppose of any derailment this process will be able to issue signals in time thus correction actions will be taken. That is why the process of tracking progress should be constantly be done. Tracking of progress can be carried out by launching on an assessment on the impact of all the activities being carried out to reduce underage drinking. 4. Conclusion In everything that is to be carried out as part of the work plan, discipline is indispensable. Just like any other project there is need for utmost devotion and commitment to each and every activities contained in the work plan. Not any little detail should be assumed as it has the capacity of bringing the much needed difference. With the available resources, as much apportionment is to be carried out among all the activities, prioritization ought to be given to those activities which have much urgency. Above all, the whole plan should be all inclusive. In conclusion the whole process should take into consideration ethics and integrity (Baldry, 1991). 5. References Kenny, S. (2006). Developing communities for the future. South Melbourne, Vic, Thomson. Parada, H., & HOMAN, M. S. (2011). Promoting community change: making it happen in the real world. Toronto, Nelson Education. Baldry, E. (1991). Actions speak: strategies and lessons from Australian social and community action. Melbourne, Australia, Longman Cheshire. Twelvetrees, A. C. (2008). Community work. Basingstoke [England], Palgrave Macmillan. Banks, S. (2003). Managing community practice: principles, policies, and programmes. Bristol, UK, Policy Press. Read More