Design and Feasibility Trial of Interventions to Reduce Young Adult Alcohol Use with Communities That Care Coalitions

Community interventions offer promise for reducing alcohol and drug use in young adulthood (age 18 to 29). This study aims to pilot three intervention components in three municipalities in Victoria, Australia participating in the Communities That Care process. The study methods include the following: (1) In 2017, a screening and brief intervention message campaign was disseminated using brochures and posters across youth serving organisations (e.g., surf shops) in the regional city of Warrnambool. A randomised waitlist trial evaluated pre- and post-campaign effects on staff (15 organisations, 30 staff) confidence and screening and brief intervention behaviour. (2) From 2017 to 2019, brochures and posters were revised from Intervention 1 and scaled up through 102 organisations and an online campaign in the municipalities of Warrnambool, Geelong, and Cardinia. (3) Intoxicated patron sales monitoring was initiated in 2019 in 12 alcohol sales venues (bars) in Geelong to examine the effect of feedback letters. (4) Community trends in youth alcohol-related hospitalisation rates were monitored. The study results include the following: (1) The Warrnambool campaign was associated with significant increases in staff confidence (effect size [ES] difference 0.8 standard deviation units), and non-significant increases in staff behaviour (ES = 0.4). (2) 4500 brochures were distributed and the online campaign had 33,184 views. (3) On average, 92% of 12 alcohol outlets sold to intoxicated patrons at the first survey with a non-significant reduction to 83% after feedback (ES = 0.4). (4) Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates for the 18 to 29 age group decreased 15.1% across the target municipalities from 2016/17 to 2019/20, while state trends increased by 1.5%. Findings provide promising design features and effect sizes warranting more rigorous community trials.