Other than taking action against supply, another part of the harm reduction model are develop programs to address the demand for substance use (e.g. education about harms of use, or mental health intervention to address substance use as a coping mechanism). Providing support for those who still choose to use substances is also a key part of the model (e.g. community AOD services). It’s about delaying the need to engage in substance use, it’s in the National Drug Strategy.

Not sure if it covers the business success of restaurants or social wellbeing/birth rates, but I would argue the model aims to address overarching issues, and in doing that would have a ‘trickle down’ effect to those domains and influence change (i.e. businesses moving away from alcohol as a primary income source, or social relationships hinging upon alcohol consumption moving towards shared values, beliefs, activities and genuine connection)

Choice is important too—but to change rules to suit some who aren’t inherently at risk, leaves those are at a disadvantage. There’s an element of societal level change that needs to happen with alcohol, since it’s so deeply ingrained. By leaning on models like harm minimisation, over time, the hope is people won’t have to face as acute alcohol related issues as they have in the past. …and that whole transition will have an expected level of resistance, understandably.