Alcohol carousel and children's school drawings as part of a community educational strategy

Within a community action research program, messages for the community population can be conveyed through already existing channels (newspapers, magazines, TV, radio) or special tools can be created. As part of the Rifredi Health District (16,900 inhabitants), Florence, Italy, Community Alcohol Action Research Project, 5,500 alcohol carousels (translated and adapted from the Stockholm carousel) were distributed during 1996 in the project's area where they were freely available. Two samples, one of a consumers' association (response rate 26%) and the other of school parents, employed a questionnaire. A few local key people underwent a qualitative interview. In all circumstances the carousel proved to be understandable, useful, and able to elicit discussions about alcohol issues. In 1996-97, after a 2-year training program in communication skills and alcohol prevention, 13 teachers in local preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools planned and implemented a health education program on the issues of alcohol and food. One outcome was nine drawings produced by the school children. The drawings were exhibited in some schools and supermarkets, and were hung in city buses.