Engaging Non-Traditional Stakeholders Around The Issue of Alcohol: Experiences in New York City

Background: Alcohol is the third leading cause of death in the United States.  Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a range of chronic and acute health consequences including unintentional injuries, risky sex, and violence.  Despite the fact that underage and excessive drinking factor into many public health problems, active stakeholders in the work of environmental prevention of alcohol problems have been generally limited to “traditional” partners (e.g., substance abuse and youth-serving organizations).  Accordingly, leaders in public health policy have identified the need to engage a wider range of stakeholders in order to effect real change around alcohol. 

The Partnership for a Healthier New York City (PHNYC) has prioritized this strategy in its efforts to raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and the need to transform communities to reduce those harms. 

Results:  PHNYC developed collaborations with key individuals and organizations working to promote sexual health, and to prevent and reduce sexual assault, violence, and suicide.  Additional links were formed with populations experiencing disproportionate levels of alcohol-related harm (e.g., the LGBTQ community, women-serving organizations, etc.). Furthermore, faith-based communities played a special role—owing to their commitment to social justice and healthy neighborhoods.

PHNYC has strategically partnered with these stakeholders to raise awareness of the connections between alcohol and their focus issues through various activities, including cross-sectoral symposia, photovoice exploration into neighborhood conditions, narrative collections, and more.

Conclusions:   It is vital that public health practitioners and advocates create opportunities for multi-sectoral stakeholders to come together and amplify the voice around alcohol and its related harms.