Alcohol Policy

I. Introduction:
After Regional Committee Meeting of the state members adopted Alcohol Consumption Control-Policy Options in the South East Asia in this 2006, Cambodia also has drafted its National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Disease for 2007-2010. Alcohol is one of the global issues that affect people throughout the world. The international cooperation is an important ways to control the alcohol. According to Regional Conference on Alcohol Control 10-11 August 2006 in Bangkok, there are 2 billion people world wide consumes alcohol in which 76.3 million people suffered alcohol use disorders and 3.2% of all deaths. In the Conference in Bangkok, civil society has established Asia-Pacific Alcohol Policy Alliance (APAPA) which PDP-Center also link with them and share information with them as well. The alcohol situation in Cambodia is very bad, we can find cases related to alcohol appeared on the newspapers every day. Those cases were killing, domestic violence and other disputes after drinking alcohol. PDP-Center has focused on alcohol as one of its top priorities that have to be addressed. PDP-Center cooperates with both stakeholders at national and international levels to push for alcohol policy in Cambodia.
II. Problems to Be Addressed:
Alcohol is a big problem in Cambodian society, violence and crimes were often happened because people who used alcohol. Some places in Cambodia still have pardon to people who drunk alcohol that they don’t know what they had done. Alcohol is very easy to buy in Cambodia even children also can buy and drink. Almost all electronic media and printed media advertise about alcohol. Alcohol were sponsored boxing, concerts, football match and the other entertainments, especially in national events. As traditionally, alcohol was used by women after releasing baby. People in Cambodia believe that alcohol can make blood going well or help women to get warm.
III. Project Objectives:
1-To encourage greater people/ youth involvement in government decision making and advocating for people/youth concerns on DAT, as well as pushing government for the creation of an alcohol policy.
2-To raise awareness on DAT issues to decision-makers, people and youth in the target areas.
3-To have people at grass-root level accessible to information related to DAT.
IV. Project Activity and Strategy:
- Project Duration:The Projent was implemented from March 01-December 31, 2006.
- Reporting Period:3 months from April 01 to June 30, 2006.
- Target Area: Phnom Penh City, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces.
The project had divided into four main activities and strategies in this reporting period as follow.