Inertia or unanticipated bottlenecks? Exploring stakeholder perspectives on the implementation determinants of the national alcohol policy five years post-enactment in Zambia

Overcoming implementation hurdles to the alcohol policy demands comprehensive strategies such as engaging communities, challenging cultural norms, strategically assigning funding, and fostering collaboration among implementing agencies. This may entail leveraging enablers such as stakeholder recognition of the policy framework and the restructured committee for the coordination of the alcohol policy implementation. Key actions should include empowering local government to enforce measures to reduce unregulated alcohol availability and ensure adequate resource allocation for alcohol control activities among implementation agents, including those providing treatment and rehabilitation services.