Encourage the view that enlightened society is an environment with qualities conducive to healthy and mindful lifestyle. Draft a policy for one aspect (alcohol) of that environment was written and will be submitted.

Our vision of establishing a Shambhala society is a community and an environment free of the misuse of alcohol. Achieving this goal is the responsibility both of individuals and of our organisational structures.

Mindfulness is the basis of our practice and applies to alcohol use.

We employ the 3-yana approach in dealing with issues of alcohol use and misuse.

• We should not use or offer alcohol in ways that may cause harm to self and others (Hinayana)
• We should extend ourselves to and not give up on those - including ourselves -who may have been harmed as the result of alcohol use (Mahayana)
• We should recognise that while alcohol is a poison it may be transformed through awareness into amrita and that the conscious use of alcohol has a valid role as part of our practice (Vajrayana)

There should awareness of any explicit or implicit pressures on community members and program participants to consume alcohol and steps should be taken to remove any such pressures.

• All the practice Gates shall examine their program formats with respect to the issues of alcohol. Consideration should be given to the possibility of reducing or eliminating alcohol use in certain programs.
• Attractive and appropriate non-alcoholic alternatives should always be available whenever alcohol is served.
• Local representatives of the office of health and well being should become aware of local resources in the field of alcohol use and misuse (such as AA).
• Where alcohol use forms a part of or attends, community programs, central and local administrations shall consider appropriate steps to reduce the risks of harm to participants or others that can result from the consumption of alcohol (such as drunken driving and other forms of misbehaviour enabled by alcohol misuse)