OECD Reviews of Public Health: Korea by OECD

Author:OECD
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: governance/socialissues
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Published: 2020-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

Box 2.7. Local governance of alcohol-free zones

Several OECD countries have given local governments the power to introduce alcohol-free zones, which function in addition to nation-wide regulation of drinking in public institutions such as hospitals and schools. This approach empowers municipalities to introduce bans where they are most needed or most effective.

In the Australian state of New South Wales, local governments have the legislative power to establish alcohol-free zones or alcohol-prohibited areas. Within these zones, police officers are allowed to confiscate open alcohol containers and impose fines of up to AUD 2 200 (KRW 1 750 000). Over 80% of the 152 local government authorities have implemented such zones (Fisher, Wadds and Clancey, 2018[84]), which include car parks, streets, beaches, playgrounds, reserves, sporting fields and parks.

In the Netherlands, mayors hold the power to introduce “Algemene Plaatselijke Verordeningen” (General local ordinances, or APVs). These APVs can restrict alcohol consumption in certain areas or streets, or at certain times (for example on match days around sport stadiums). Decentralising this decision making to the local governments allows policies to be tailored to local circumstances. For example, in the municipality of The Hague, the local government reviews the area’s crime statistics every year to identify where the alcohol-bans should apply (Gemeente Den Haag, 2017[85]). Perpetrators can be given monetary fines.

In Sweden, the municipalities are responsible for a large number of alcohol policies, including licensing, public education and rehabilitation (Karlsson, 2012[86]). In addition to these obligatory duties, the municipalities have the freedom to implement other alcohol regulations, including local restrictions on the consumption of alcohol in public places.

Sources: Fisher, D., P. Wadds and G. Clancey (2018[84]), “The patchwork of alcohol-free zones and alcohol-prohibited areas in New South Wales (Australia)”, Safer Communities, Vol. 17/2, pp. 94-102, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/SC-06-2017-0025; Gemeente Den Haag (2017[85]), Alcohol-gebiedsverbod, https://www.denhaag.nl/nl/in-de-stad/veiligheid/alcohol-gebiedsverbod.htm (accessed on 19 November 2018); Karlsson, D. (2012[86]), “Alcohol policy and local democracy in Sweden”, Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Vol. 29/3, pp. 233-252, http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10199-012-0016-9.

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