What are the key barriers and facilitators to adoption and compliance of alcohol policies in African and international high schools
1
Psychology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The use of alcohol among high school learners is a significant public health concern globally, with schools increasingly positioned as key sites for alcohol policy implementation and prevention. ³, ⁴ However, the adoption, implementation, and compliance of alcohol-related policies in high school settings vary widely. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize evidence on the key barriers and facilitators influencing the adoption and compliance of alcohol policies in African high schools and comparable secondary school settings in other global regions.
METHODS:
A qualitative scoping review was conducted using the following search engines: Google Scholar, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Sabinet, EBSCO- Host and MEDLINE from the Rhodes university library. A total of eight studies satisfied the quality criteria of the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA). ⁵ Thematic analysis was undertaken to examine the data.
RESULTS:
The thematic analysis revealed key facilitators and barriers to adoption and compliance of alcohol policies in high schools. ² The presence of clear and strict school alcohol policies, consistent enforcement mechanisms and supportive national regulatory frameworks aimed at reducing alcohol availability and protecting youth. Major barriers identified were weak or inconsistent enforcement, limited policy awareness among educators and learners, insufficient training and institutional capacity, unregulated school-related social events, sociocultural normalization of alcohol use, and gaps between national policy frameworks and school-level implementation.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings highlight that effective alcohol policy compliance in high schools depends not only on the existence of policies but also on enforcement capacity, institutional support, stakeholder collaboration, and alignment between school-level practices and broader regulatory environments. Strengthening implementation mechanisms and bridging the policy–practice gap is essential to improving alcohol policy effectiveness in high school settings.
The use of alcohol among high school learners is a significant public health concern globally, with schools increasingly positioned as key sites for alcohol policy implementation and prevention. ³, ⁴ However, the adoption, implementation, and compliance of alcohol-related policies in high school settings vary widely. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize evidence on the key barriers and facilitators influencing the adoption and compliance of alcohol policies in African high schools and comparable secondary school settings in other global regions.
METHODS:
A qualitative scoping review was conducted using the following search engines: Google Scholar, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Sabinet, EBSCO- Host and MEDLINE from the Rhodes university library. A total of eight studies satisfied the quality criteria of the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA). ⁵ Thematic analysis was undertaken to examine the data.
RESULTS:
The thematic analysis revealed key facilitators and barriers to adoption and compliance of alcohol policies in high schools. ² The presence of clear and strict school alcohol policies, consistent enforcement mechanisms and supportive national regulatory frameworks aimed at reducing alcohol availability and protecting youth. Major barriers identified were weak or inconsistent enforcement, limited policy awareness among educators and learners, insufficient training and institutional capacity, unregulated school-related social events, sociocultural normalization of alcohol use, and gaps between national policy frameworks and school-level implementation.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings highlight that effective alcohol policy compliance in high schools depends not only on the existence of policies but also on enforcement capacity, institutional support, stakeholder collaboration, and alignment between school-level practices and broader regulatory environments. Strengthening implementation mechanisms and bridging the policy–practice gap is essential to improving alcohol policy effectiveness in high school settings.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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