在许多方面,COVID-19大流行为替代生活和工作方式提供了自然实验。尽管酒精供应是受COVID-19限制影响的许多方面之一,这些与酒精有关的措施很少继续。这篇评论介绍了澳大利亚北部戈夫半岛的独特案例研究,在那里,大流行的限制是对已建立的酒精管理系统进行审查的催化剂。2008年,戈夫半岛引入了许可证制度,以控制谁可以购买外卖酒精以及他们每天可以购买多少。该系统的发展植根于社区发展和自决的原则。这篇评论描述了COVID-19和酒精危害水平的相关变化如何动员社区支持对该系统进行审查,在过去的十年里没有变化。COVID-19在揭示令人信服的本地化信息方面是偶然的,这些信息鼓励检查该系统的潜在改进。现在正在试用更新的政权,它对该地区每个人的酒精购买量设定了每日限制。这一经验说明了及时和相关的数据有助于社区为当地问题制定当地解决方案的好处。
In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a natural experiment for alternate ways of living and working. Although alcohol supply was one of many aspects impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, few of those alcohol-related measures have been continued. This commentary presents a unique case study from the Gove Peninsula in northern Australia, where pandemic restrictions acted as a catalyst for a review of an established alcohol management system. A permit system was introduced on the Gove Peninsula in 2008 to control who can purchase takeaway alcohol and how much they could buy each day. Development of the system was rooted in the principles of community development and self-determination. This commentary describes how COVID-19 and associated changes in levels of alcohol harms mobilised community support for a review of the system, that had operated unchanged for the past decade. COVID-19 was adventitious in revealing compelling localised information which encouraged examination of potential improvements to the system. An updated regime is now being trialled, which sets daily limits on the alcohol purchases of everyone in the area. This experience illustrates the benefits of timely and relevant data to assist communities in formulating local solutions to local problems.