"You can dance, you can sing. You do not need alcohol to do these things." - Fighting substance abuse on Sri Lanka with social policy

Abstract: The aim with our study was to explore ADIC’s policy work in the field of substance abuse and the process of implementation of policies on Sri Lanka. We chose a qualitative method were we interviewed six professionals. The theoretical concepts of welfare regimes and social policy approaches were used to analyse our empirical material. Our findings showed that ADIC were working with policies in two directions; implementation- and formulation of social policies. The organisation presented implementation of policies as their main field where they aimed for the government and community to take more legal action against alcohol consumption. They did so through education and information to people in various positions. The second field was formulation of policies where they aimed for stricter alcohol policies and zero-tolerance, by lobbying ideas and suggestions to the government. This controlling and restrictive approach towards policies characterises the criminal justice approach. We identified Sri Lanka as an informal security regime where the government played a marginal role in social welfare, only providing security to the poorest. This resulted in NGO’s being a common feature on Sri Lanka, thus people had to rely on these informal social networks. ADIC’s social work through social policies consisted mainly of changing people's behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol in society and working as a pressure group to achieve desired results.