Grounded in one of the main goals of the 2020 EU Health Strategy "Together for Health" "promote health, prevent disease and encourage support for healthy lifestyles environments," the best practice on prevention and health promotion "MOCKTAILS: memories of a funny evening" is part of a health promotion approach as a precondition for improving the quality of life of individuals through an intelligent collaborative investment in the health of youngster, young and the whole community of the city of Torres Vedras, located at 40km west of Lisbon.
Created by Dianova Portugal in partnership with Municipality of Torres Vedras and in collaboration with 42 partners "MOCKTAILS: memories fun one night" is being held since 2009 on an yearly basis within school and community environments during a week time in May, by focusing on a face-to-face, this strategy of proximity among young students and community environment helps them to "defend themselves" from peer pressure and to be more responsible in leisure times without "risking" the day after.
Our main goal with this collaborative strategy (including the National Agency on Drugs, Police forces, Regional Authorities, Schools, Media, Night Life Owners – Bars, Pubs and Discos -, Sponsors and Media), is to keep pushing forward and broaden up this unique and innovative activity in our country in the area of prevention of risk behaviors associated with alcohol abuse. The Municipality of Torres Vedras has become a benchmark example that other cities have shown interest in following and mobilizing an array of concerned stakeholders that are interested in this collaborative joint-action to promote healthy life styles and generate positive impact. In these past 7 years (2009-2015) we have reached directly 30.973 youngsters, young adults and adults.