rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
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associated with communities having adequate
income from kava exports. 979 Importantly,
applicants interviewed after orientation most
frequently reported that the most useful information
from the session was that workers
cannot drink during working hours. 980
The most recent published WHO data on
alcohol consumption patterns for Vanuatu
are for 2001–02, noting a steady decline in
consumption of pure alcohol in the period
1997–2001. 981 The report showed a significant
disparity between consumption by
males and by females.
Kava
Kava root extract exports are reported to be
an important source of income in Vanuatu. 982
In light of this fact, import restrictions by Australia,
New Zealand and the European Union
are likely to impact on production. This may
lead to changing consumption patterns. Internationally,
Vanuatu’s kava is known as the
world’s most potent, used almost exclusively as
an intoxicant. 983 There are a number of reports
highlighting changing consumption patterns
associated with increased urbanisation.
The PDARN delegate reports that both males
and females can be found drinking at the
Nakamal (kava bars) from 5pm to 2am or
3am. This trend is mainly limited to Port Vila
and Luganville, but is said to be emerging
in other centres. Regular drinkers are reportedly
consuming between 2 and 25 shells of
kava per night. 984 No reports of the same
social exclusion (e.g. as found in Tonga) of
combining kava consumption with alcohol
consumption have been identified.
Other
The use of spirit fuel (Coleman Light) to brew
an alcoholic drink was identified as an issue
as early as 2003. 985 Youth were identified as
the key group of concern. As spirit fuel is a
commercially available product not subject to
liquor licensing, the difficulty with managing
this issue remains a matter of supply. 986 This
matter was raised again at the 2009 PDARN
meeting. Benzene and glue sniffing, the use
of highly concentrated coconut and fruit juice
to make homebrew, and mushrooms were
also identified as locally used drugs.
979 Ibid.
980 Ibid.
981 WHO (2004), Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004. Geneva: WHO.
982 Crime and Society: a comparative criminology tour of the world, available at:
(accessed
March 2009).
983 S. Combs (1995–98), Vanuatu: a Canadian’s perspective — Kava in Vanuatu, Part 2. Available at:
(accessed March 2009).
984 No metric measure was provided for the shells but they are usually the size of a coconut shell.
985 Above, fn.973.
986 Recommendations for the development of a Vanuatu alcohol policy included strict regulations
on the sale of Coleman Light and yeast to youth.