Participating in nightlife it is a meaningful cultural activity for young people. Councils welcome a flourishing late-night entertainment industry. But there also problems related to the people involved (alcohol and drug abuse, violence, risky sex…) and to the recreational activity itself (noise, street drinking, vandalism…). Prevention intervention possibilities are numerous, and most have been implemented, however assessment of their outcomes is less common.

We have identified 11 types of prevention according to their main objective (venues centred, community, education, law enforcement, industry collaboration…) and we have reviewed the existing evidence in relation to each form of intervention.

Popular types of interventions as providing information or pill testing are not evidence based.  Other interventions as Responsible beverage services or designated driver programmes, backed by the industry, are not exactly the most effective, especially if they are not enforced. Others like community approaches can be effective but it can be a problem how to achieve their continuity. From the present review, what emerges as the best strategy is the combination of training, cooperation and enforcement. ‘Classical’ measures (taxation, reduced BAC limits, minimum legal purchasing age…) are also evidence-based and effective.

Could be interesting to investigate interventions that address the cultural aspects of nightlife. But this sort of interventions do not depend on the will or the skills of professionals, and are more related to societal changes.

The highly frequent use of popular but ineffective interventions contributes more to the problem than to its solution, and only facilitates giving preventive efforts a bad reputation.

More: Products

A first Club Health network (CHN) meeting will take place on 15^th and 16^th of December 2009 in Ljubljana (Slovenia). About 30 partners of the Club Health project will meet and discuss project protocols and working plans. Workshops and round-table discussions will be organised as a part of the meeting to stimulate discussion on project products and different nightlife-related topics. Prior to the network meeting the Steering Committee of the project will meet on 14^th of December 2009 and discuss new developments regarding particular work package.

More: Agenda of the Meeting (.doc document)

Minutes and reports: ClubHealthMeetingLjubljana.pdf

A website of the Club Health project (www.club-health.eu) was finally launched today. A website was designed and built by UTRIP. All project products (study, database, 2 brochures, training manual, 2 guidelines and 7 fact sheets) will be published on the website. The proceedings of the meetings, seminar and conferences will be available to the various partners, institutions and networks through our website as well. This site will also include a discussion forum for international discussions and exchanges on the products. Many other interesting information and materials will also be available online, especially those linked to the projects, research and other activities of all Club Health project associated and collaborating partners.