During the 2012 Morecambe Alcohol Inquiry local residents tackled this challenging question.
Residents of Morecambe and Fleetwood participated in two Citizen Jury Alcohol Inquiries, taking place during June and December 2012. They were examining the effect of alcohol on the wellbeing of everyone in their communities.
Each Jury held regular meetings, where participants heard from and then questioned a wide range of informed opinions given by invited experts. The Inquiry used that testimony, alongside their own experience, to make recommendations towards “making it easier to have a more responsible relationship with alcohol”.
This is the report of the Morecambe Alcohol Inquiry. The issues participants felt they wanted to focus on, addressing the root causes that makes it difficult to have a responsible relationship with alcohol were:
- Loneliness and a lack of community spirit
- Peer pressure and changing drinking habits (such as competitive drinking, bragging on social media and a lack of social places without alcohol)
- A uniquely ‘British’ mentality towards alcohol and a family culture of drinking