These researchers examined local government responses to alcoholrelated problems in NZ communities and sought to identify factors that influence the formulation and adoption of alcohol policy. The research was guided by two conceptual frameworks: Kingdon’s Streams model and the Stakeholder model of policy development. Three communities were selected for in-depth investigation: a rural town, a provincial city and a metropolitan city. Newspaper reports, local government documents and key informant interviews were used to collect data which were analysed according to the Streams and Stakeholder models. Kingdon’s theoretical concepts associated with increased likelihood of policy change seemed to apply in the rural and metropolitan communities, whereas the political environment in the provincial city did not encourage the adoption of alcohol restrictions. The Stakeholder model highlighted differences between the communities in terms of power over agenda-setting and conflict between politicians and bureaucrats over policy solutions to alcohol-related harm. These differences were reflected in the ratio of policies considered versus adopted in each location.
