Alcohol prevention targeting licensed premises: a study of effects on violence.

If it works there, will it work here? The effect of a multi-component responsible beverage service (RBS) programme on violence in Oslo

“…Recent re-analysis of the original data set, using more robust statistical methods and additional comparison areas, revealed smaller effects, but essentially confirmed the results (Norström and Trolldal, 2013). According to Wallin et al (2003), the effect on violence may be transmitted by a reduction in overserving, which they found to be drastically reduced. Wallin et al (2004) pointed to five key factors that ensure the success of the STAD programme: adoption, sustainability, key leader support, structural changes, and compliance.…”

“…The evaluation showed a decrease in police-recorded crimes by a striking 29% in the intervention area, compared to the control area (Wallin et al, 2003). Recent re-analysis of the original data set, using more robust statistical methods and additional comparison areas, revealed smaller effects, but essentially confirmed the results (Norström and Trolldal, 2013).…”

“…Since alcohol-related nightlife violence was our focus, we restricted the offences to those that had been committed at night. The largest bulk of violent events occur after bars close at 3am, but we include the broader interval between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. as was also done in the STAD studies (Wallin et al, 2003). This interval corresponds well to the most active times of Norwegian night life, and captures the timing of most violent events by a good margin.…”

“…The STAD intervention included RBS-training of the staff and owners of licensed premises combined with increased enforcement by the police and the municipality. It was documented to have produced impressive results with regard to the reduction of alcohol-related violence, and the key publications have a high citation rate (Wallin et al, 2005(Wallin et al, , 2004(Wallin et al, , 2003. The intervention stands out in a literature with rather few success stories (Graham and Homel, 2008).…”

“…Key components of the STAD programme were a) an advisory group with regular meetings, formalizing the collaboration between the country administration, the police and representatives of the bar and restaurant industry b) RBS training for servers, doormen and restaurant-owners (2-day course), c) increased enforcement, done by regular meetings between the police and the Licensing board, increased distribution of notification letters to licensed premises and mutual controls of licensed premises conducted by the Licensing board and the police (Wallin et al, 2003).…”