Science and alcohol policy at the local level: a respectful partnership

This paper describes the working exchange between scientists who designed a three-community prevention trial in the United States (1990-95) to reduce alcohol-involved injuries at the community level, and community organizers and local policy-makers in the experimental sites. We found that researchers brought scientific knowledge of potentially effective alcohol policies but had no experience with the local culture, priorities or processes; conversely, community organizers understood the local situation but were not knowledgeable about prevention strategies which, based on prior evidence, could work. We also found that communities are interested in science to aid the selection of local alcohol policies, but scientists do not understand local dynamics well enough to direct the implementation of these policies. This case study showed that both groups must respect each other and seek ways to work together for the mutually desired outcome of effective local prevention.