Act establishing the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council
Act
establishing the
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council
(No. 76/1998)
The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council
Article 1
An Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council shall be established, and it shall be responsible to the Minister of Health.
The aim of the establishment of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council is to build up and strengthen measures to prevent the abuse of alcohol and drugs, particularly among children and young people, and to combat the consequences of the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants.
The aim of the activities of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council is to eradicate the consumption of harmful drugs and to make a massive reduction in the consumption of alcohol. The council shall promote collaboration and co-ordination between those who work at the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, such as the clinics and other health-service, the local authorities´ social welfare authorities, the law-enforcement authorities, the educational system, the criminal justice system and non-governmental organizations.
Appointment of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council
Article 2
The Minister of Health shall appoint eight persons to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council, and the same number of alternates, for terms of four years at a time. Generally, individuals chosen to serve on the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council shall be experts in the field of Alcohol and Drug abuse Prevention. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Social Affairs, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Union of Local Authorities in Iceland shall each nominate a representative. Alternates shall be nominated in the same way.
The Minister of Health shall appoint a chairman and vice-chairman from among the members of the council.
Functions of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council.
Article 3
The functions of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council shall be:
1. To monitor compliance with the provisions of the acts and regulations applying to alcohol and drug abuse prevention and also with government policy at any given time.
2. To act in an advisory capacity to the government and other authorities, including local councils working at alcohol and drug abuse prevention, concerning alcohol and drug abuse prevention, including the need for remedial treatment, and to make proposals on government policy in this area, taking into account the findings of research.
3. To submit recommendations to the Minster of Health on the award of grants from the Prevention Fund for projects in the field of alcohol and drug abuse prevention.
4. To use its influence to achieve the co-ordination of the efforts of those involved in alcohol and drug abuse prevention (cf. Paragraph 3 of Article 1), this shall include holding regular consultative meetings with representatives of those parties.
5. To support studies in the field of alcohol and drug abuse prevention, including annual surveys of the consumption of alcohol and drugs by children and young people, and to monitor the connection between drug and alcohol consumption and crime.
6. To keep abreast of the situation in the field of alcohol and drug abuse prevention in Iceland’s neighbouring countries and to handle relations with similar institutions in those countries.
7. To support the publication of educational materials concerning alcohol and drug abuse prevention and to collect information on drug problems so that the council is in procession of the latest and most reliable information on the situation. The council shall publish an annual report on its activities and the situation in alcohol and drug abuse prevention measures.
8. To deal with other tasks which the Minister may entrust to the council.
Day-to-day activities of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council.
Article 4
The Minister of Health shall engage a general manager after receiving the comments of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council. The general manager shall direct the day-today activities of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council and engage other staff of the council
Annual funding at the disposal of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council.
Article 5
Each year, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council shall have the following funds at its disposal in order to perform its functions:
1. The Prevention Fund under Article 8 of the Alcoholic Beverage Levy Act, No. 96/1995.
2. Funding under the state budget at any given time.
3. Donations which companies or other parties may make towards the activities of the council.
Authorisation to issue regulations.
The Minister of Health shall issue regulations on the further application of this Act, including the disposal of funds form the Prevention Fund.
Commencement.
Article7
This Act shall take effect on 1st July 1998.