The Norwegian Alcohol Act in a Context of Politics and Local Authorities
description
Transcript of The Norwegian Alcohol Act in a Context of Politics and Local Authorities
The Norwegian Alcohol Act in a Context of Politics and Local Authorities
Bergljot BaklienØystein Skjælaaen
SIRUS 2010
Content
• The law
• Law and reality
• The context
The Law
• Control as harm reduction- reduce drinking in risky situations
• Three target groups– Population– Licensees– Municipalities
The Data
• Studies by SIRUS on– Serving to intoxicated persons– Serving to persons under age– Administration of the Alcohol Act
• Data for the present study– Observation 1 (municipal officials, local politicians, inspectors)
– Observation 2 (inspections in two towns)
Law and reality 1
• Serving to obviously intoxicated persons– 80 % in Bergen
(eks. Lauritzen/Baklien 2007)
• Serving to persons under age – 50 % in Trondheim
(eks. Buvik/Baklien 2006)
Law and reality 2
• Annual survey in the municipalities– Not enough
inspections – Inspections reveal
few violations– Violations rarely lead
to sanctions
Area oftension
ArenasActorsDecision makingprocess
Centralized authority vs local autonomy
Drinking culture: formal vs informal norms
Economical interests vs health aspects and formal norms
Municipal decisionmaking arena
Bar/restaurant Serve or not serve
Inspectors’decision making
The context
Controlling a drinking culture
Norwegians drink “… at weekends and at parties, likely not in company with food, and frequently a little too much”. Norwegians get drunk!
The inspectors are supposed to react on situations that pass the informal control
Formal normsThe Alcohol Act
Informal norms Drunkenness accepted/ expected
It is accepted and sometimes even expected that the guests get drunk
When the formal norm is not supported by the informal social control, it gets tougher for the inspectors to carry out their tasks
The economic interests of the bar owner ………….fits together with the informal social control and the drinking culture
Centralized authority vs local autonomy
The municipality is responsible for the control.
The alcohol act does not specify: * At what hours the inspections should be done * Number of inspectors working together* Time spent on each place* What kind of training that should be given* How the reports should be like
The inspections varies between the municipalities. Several municipalities don’t have “control over the control”.
Local autonomy and economic considerations
To withdraw a license is a costly tool -threatening jobs, reducing the municipality’s tax revenue
The preventive effects of a suspension are uncertain and may eventually turn up some time in the future.
A suspension leads to less income for the establishment and for the municipality. Money counts!
The harm reducing and preventive effects of alcohol policy measures are often uncertain at the local level and may first be visible after some time.
The negative economic consequences are immediate and tangible.
The drinking culture can influencethe decision making of* the inspectors* the officials* the politicians
The law is violated to a large extent Violations are rarely revealed, and when a violation is reported, it rarely has any consequences
The goal attainment of the alcohol act depends on the decisions made by local politicians and municipal officials in 430 municipalities
The principle of municipal autonomy is strong
Economic considerations are important in in in the municipalities and among those selling or serving alcohol
The inspections is an item of expenditure
The Norwegian drinking culture is prevailing in the contexts the law is supposed to regulate.
The provisions regarding control and sanctions probably has an effect. But many places little is done and the efforts are inefficient. Explanations can be found in the social context where the law should function.
Area oftension
ArenasActorsDecision makingprocess
Centralized authority vs local autonomy
Drinking culture: formal vs informal norms
Economical interests vs health aspects and formal norms
Municipal decisionmaking arena
Bar/restaurant Serve or not serve
Inspectors’decision making
The context