Alco-link

In broad terms, Alco-link's aim is to provide nationally-consistent intelligence about the association between alcohol and offending, which in turn can be used by Police and partner agencies to help minimise alcohol related harm.

Alco-Link is an expansion to the Last Drink Survey (LDS) model that was established over 15 years ago as a liquor licensing surveillance system and harm minimisation tool. Alco-Link captures 'last drink' type information as part of routine policing.

Where prior alcohol consumption is a factor, the core information collected includes:

· where the last drink was consumed

· if that consumption was at a licensed premises, its name and address - as well as whether the licensed premises reported the incident

· date and time of the last drink

· the person's observed level of being affected by alcohol.

NZ Police continue to develop their approaches to enforcement of Sale of Liquor Act, through their network of Liquor Licencing Officers. Alco-Link remains a key tool, in this process, and a National Alcohol Analyst will be appointed shortly to pick up the reins from the Alco-Link Project Team. Grant Verner, the National Liquor Licencing Coordinator, and Lesley Daly, Strategic Adviser for drugs and Alcohol, have been in post for some months now and are developing their networks at both a national and local level.

Contact details: Grant Verner (grant.verner@police.govt.nz) 04 470 7002 Or Lesley Daly (lesley.daly@police.govt.nz) 04 4 474 9520.