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Creating alcohol-free environments
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The seminar on
the development of alcohol-free environments gathered nearly 60 people,
mostly Muslims, in the 3rd floor of Driv Student House, Friday, 30
April. It was a rewarding,
inspiring and productive evening, in spite of the unexpected disturbance
of high music and delays.
An hour later
than planned, due to the loud noise from downstairs, and to make room
for the afternoon prayer, presented Brother Sadiq the evening's goals
and program.
Rahma Søvik from INS Tromsø held the first evening's lecture:
"When alcohol is something, of
course".
After a break in the dining salon with nice
sandwhiches, coffee and tea, held Hassan Bakil from Alnor Senter the
lecture "Why is
alcohol forbidden in Islam?".
We then
went directly to Magne Richardsen from DNT who gave the lecture "Alcohol
ABC" (power point)
with surprising, exciting, and seriously heavy information about alcohol
culture, alcohol industry's aggressive marketing and working methods,
negative and harmful consequences, and its effect on the integration of
minority groups.
Afterwards the debate was
on several themes:
1. Position Work in Schools; effect or not?
Knowledge of the alcohol industry and alcohol's harmful effects will
affect the youth and get them to think in new directions.
That alcohol policies have a greater effect, no doubt.
2. How to help adolescents cope with pressures
drinking?
3.
How do we handle situations where we are offered
alcohol?
As
Muslims, we explain that we do not drink because we are Muslims, and we
seem to have respect for it.
In explaining why we have this prohibition, we affect those we
interact with to also abstain from alcohol.
4. What are the possibilities to form a
local office for DNT?
There
is interest in the topic from both the Christian and the Muslim
community. We have also established contact with
people both at the university and the town hall, and can imagine that
such local involvement is anticipated. Some just need to start. We need
an alcohol policy training courses, and we need to learn more about
"counterforce"; alcohol industry.
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