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Harm reduction encourages responsible and beneficial drinking patterns and discourages those that are reckless and potentially harmful.
The harm reduction approach recognizes that drinking has a place in society. Its emphasis lies in areas in which harm can be reduced without eliminating or even necessarily reducing drinking.
- At a societal level, the harm reduction approach advocates the promotion of those patterns of drinking that have been shown to be consistent with generally healthy lifestyles.
- At a personal level, the harm reduction model supports strategies aimed at reducing the possible consequences of harmful drinking patterns, without unnecessarily limiting or restricting the choices of those whose drinking is not associated with adverse outcomes.
Making the drinking environment safer is an effective approach to minimizing harm.
Harm reduction strategies are targeted at several key areas where risks may be high.
- There is a focus on at-risk drinking, not overall alcohol consumption.
- Drinking and related activities are made safer, both for drinkers and for others around them.
- Harm reduction focuses on the settings in which drinking takes place.
- The approach is sensitive to cultural differences and contexts.
There is an evidence base that supports the use of harm reduction approaches that have been proven to be effective in reducing harm.
Such approaches include the following:
- Product safety (e.g., quality control, testing of illicit alcohol, contamination, counterfeit).
- A safer environment for consumption (e.g., "safety" glass that shatters easily and completely, bar design, server training, crowd control, providing food or non-alcohol beverages).
- Increased education and reminders for young people, consumers, and health professionals of the risks associated with harmful patterns of drinking (e.g., brief intervention, health messages, responsible drinking messages).
- Reducing risks associated with hazardous or reckless drinking (e.g., alternative transportation from drinking venues, random BAC testing, reducing effects of intoxication).
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