1

DRAFT PROGRAMME ADVOCACY COURSE

DAY 1

SESSION 3Policy analysis – what is the problemQuiz 2Defining the problemObtaining information to assess the problem

SESSION 4Policy analysis – what is the solution?Opportunities and strengths analysisVision of changeAlternatives for solving problemSound bite 2

2

As alcohol consumption declines:

a. The number of jobs in the alcohol sector will always decline

b. The number of jobs in the alcohol sector will not change

c. The number of jobs in the alcohol sector may increase

3

More than 70% of the world’s alcohol exports comes from countries of the EU. The proportion of EU alcohol exports by value to countries outside the EU is:

a. More than 75%

b. Less than 25%

c. 100%

d. Between 50% and 75%

e. Between 25% and 50%

4

Taxes on alcohol should not be increased, because the amount of money that the government gets in from tax will decrease

a. True

b. False

5

Each year, in real money terms, alcohol costs the European Union about

a. EUR125 million

b. EUR 2.5 billion

c. EUR 125 billion

d. EUR 50 billion

e. EUR 234 billion

6

Each year, the total value of pain, suffering and lost life from alcohol in the European Union is about

a. EUR125million

b. EUR 55 billion

c. EUR 270 billion

d. EUR 400 billion

e. EUR 135 billion

7

As alcohol consumption declines:

a. The number of jobs in the alcohol sector will always decline

b. The number of jobs in the alcohol sector will not change

c.The number of jobs in the alcohol sector may increase

8

100

150

200

250

300

1995 1997 1999 2001

Em

plo

ymen

t (0

00s)

)

6

8

10

12

Employment

Consumption

25

30

35

40

45

50

1995 1997 1999 2001

8.5

9

9.5

10

10.5

11

Co

nsu

mp

tion

(l/adu

lt)

Employment

Consumption

Italy - barsFinland - HoReCa

Consumption and employment

9

More than 70% of alcohol exports comes from countries of the EU. The proportion of EU alcohol exports by value to countries outside the EU is:

a. More than 75%

b. Less than 25%

c. 100%

d. Between 50% and 75%

e.Between 25% and 50%

10

EU15 exports

EU1552%

Rest of World47%

EU101%

EU10 exports

EU1541%

EU1022%

Rest of World37%

11

Taxes on alcohol should not be increased, because the amount of money that the government gets in from tax will decrease

a. True

b.False

12

Consumption and tax

Denmark

Austria

BelgiumFrance

Germany

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

Sweden

UK

0.0%

0.1%

0.2%

0.3%

0.4%

0.5%

0.6%

0.7%

0.8%

0 5 10 15 20

Annual adult alcohol consumption (litres)

Go

ve

rnm

en

t a

lco

ho

l ta

x

rev

en

ue

(%

of

GD

P)

13

Each year, in real money terms, alcohol costs the European Union about

a. EUR125 million

b. EUR 2.5 billion

c.EUR 125 billion

d. EUR 50 billion

e. EUR 234 billion

14

Total tangible costs – €125bn

Crime - police€15bn

Unemployment€14bn

Crime - defensive€12bn

Traffic accidents damage€10bn

Crime - damage€6bn

Treatment/prevention

€5bn

Health€17bn

Absenteeism€9bn

Mortality€36bn

15

Each year, the total value of pain, suffering and lost life from alcohol in the European Union is about

a. EUR125million

b. EUR 55 billion

c.EUR 270 billion

d. EUR 400 billion

e. EUR 135 billion

16

Intangible = putting a value on quality of life, pain, being alive…

Total intangible costs – €270bn

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Source: Advocacy Center at ISC. http://www.advocacy.org/

18

Checklist to identify issue or problem

Problem/Issue 1:

Problem/Issue 2: Problem/Issue 3: Will resolving the problem/Will the issue:

Result in a real improvement in people’s lives?

Give people a sense of their own power?

Build strong lasting organizations and alter the relations of power?

Raise awareness about power relations and democratic rights?

Be one that can be won?

Be widely felt by many people?

Be deeply felt by people?

Be easy to communication and understand?

Provide opportunities for people to learn about and be involved in policies?

Have clear advocacy targets?

Have a clear time frame?

Avoid creating divisions amongst those that you have to work with and influence?

Build accountable leadership?

Be consistent with your values and vision?

Provide potential for raising funds?

Link local issues to global issues and macro policy context?

Source: Advocacy Center at ISC. http://www.advocacy.org/

19

Identify an Issue’s Life Cycle Stage and the Next Steps for Advocates

Stage Characteristics Next Steps Actions to Take

Birth A new demand, issue, idea, or proposal takes form. It is not yet recognized by others.

Build support to advance the idea. Define the issue, as well as its impact on people and communitiesRaise the issue through protest or other ways to exert pressure

Childhood The issue or idea begins to acquire networks of support.

Nurture the issue or idea. Move “from protest to politics”: engage in public argument and generate possible solutionsBuild alliancesWork with the mediaAnalyze policy alternatives

Adolescence The issue or idea advances through the early stages of decision-making. It takes on more importance and legitimacy, gaining champions within influential institutions and among some key decision makers. Others begin to contribute ideas about different paths to the desired result.

Focus the discussion in ways that are not divisive, but rather advance the issue towards a decision.

Work inside the corridors of power to negotiate compromises with decision makersExert steady pressure from outside to maintain political will to take action

Adulthood The issue reaches a resolute decision.

Plan in detail for a sufficient workability.

Analyze the budget to make sure the final solution has the commitment and resources needed to be effective

Maturity The idea is implemented. Monitor and evaluate actions for effectiveness.

Work closely with constituents to monitor the solution’s impactGenerate data and give feedback to decision makers

Renewal Implementation is evaluated further.

Improve implementation and search for broader applicability.

Review progress and determine the next action steps

Source: Advocacy Center at ISC. http://www.advocacy.org/

20

DEFINE THE PROBLEM

What is the problem? Why is it a problem? Why is it a public problem? Identify the problem’s stage and why?

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RESEARCH FOR ADVOCACY

What policy goal does this research address? Is this research appropriate to the policy goal? Will my research be done in time to meet my policy

objectives? How will I use the results to advocate for that policy

goal Is there another (cheaper, easier, more effective) way

to gain the same results?

22

Types of Research for Advocacy

Opinion polls/Surveys Economics research Review of alcohol industry websites and actions Qualitative research

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Presenting your research Communicate the results directly with

policymakers. Hold a press conference. Invite members of the press to come to a meeting

at your office to discuss the results. Call one journalist with whom you have a good

relationship, or who has written on alcohol control, and giving him/her “exclusive” rights to the research,

Write a press release and fax/send it to various media.

Refer to your findings in letters to the editor, letters to politicians, speeches.

Share your results—if not a formal report, at least the key findings, which may be all that most people read anyway— with other organizations potentially interested in alcohol control.

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Specific suggestions on research to conduct to meet advocacy objectives

Your advocacy objectives should guide your

research. Start with what information you need to press for a certain policy change; then plan your research.

Test the questions before use, to make sure they are clear.

Decide which questions you need and which you do not.

Plan your data analysis in advance—if you will use a computer, set up the form on the computer before you conduct the survey. Make sure you have the time and ability to do the analysis.

Only do the survey if you know how it will be useful for you.

Remember to tie the results in to your policy initiatives.