The UK Youth DrinkAware Challenges Programme launched in partnership with the DrinkAware Trust at the House of Commons on Monday 23rd July in order to bring key figures from the Alcohol and Youth sectors together with key policy makers to learn more about the toolkit and Challenge Programme and its vital role for young people. The programme is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Recent research and consultations with young people have highlighted the fact that many young people are drinking at an early age, and that binge drinking is common. At the same time, most young people have only a vague knowledge about safe levels of drinking, and the short and long term consequences of alcohol use and abuse.
According to the Government’s new alcohol strategy ‘Safe, Sensible, Social’, 30% of young men and 22% of young women aged 16-24 drink at a harmful level[1]; while 44% of young people aged 16-24 are more likely to binge drink than any other age group.[2]
The UK Youth DrinkAware Challenges toolkit provides young people with a fantastic opportunity to raise their awareness of alcohol-related issues whilst working towards a recognised qualification in the form of the Youth Achievement Awards. Hopefully this toolkit will enable young people to become better equipped to understand and manage alcohol related issues in their own lives and the wider community around them.
Non-formal education approaches can enable young people to question their attitudes to alcohol use; and boost their self-esteem and develop essential life skills so that they are equipped to deal with the pressures that may influence them to drink excessively. The Drinkaware Challenge programme will strengthen Government initiatives in combating alcohol misuse by taking on a holistic, non-formal approach to raising awareness of alcohol use and misuse.
“Working with UK Youth on this project is an important step forward in promoting responsible drinking to young people. We hope that through this project young people will be given information to allow them to make more informed choices, and lead happier, healthier lives in the future.” - Kate Winstanley, Director of Campaigns and Information, Drinkaware.
[1] ‘Safe, Sensible, Social: Next Steps in National Alcohol Strategy’ by HM Government (June 2007)
[2] Ibid.
Both www.drinkawaretrust.org.uk
