22nd February 2008, 08/46
Plans to tackle underage drinking unveiled in new
report
Underage and binge drinking is such a growing concern in West
Lancashire that a report is to be unveiled to highlight how the
issues can be tackled.
West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership (WLCSP) commissioned
Lancashire County Council's Youth and Community Service to carry
out an 'Alcohol Awareness Report'. This was to look at the scale of
the problem and suggested actions that can be taken to reduce the
negative impact it has on young people and communities.
After months of research, surveys, consultation with teenagers, an
alcohol conference, talking to parents, young people with alcohol
related problems and parents, a list of actions have been put
together.
One innovative idea is to explore the idea of opening a
non-alcoholic pub for under 18s as a pilot initiative in
consultation with breweries. This could be done by securing a local
pub premises specifically for young people under 18 on a trial
basis.
The report also calls for:
· More education for parents because views from young people show
they play an important role in modelling their views
· Promoting healthy lifestyles through sport and fitness
· Alcohol awareness training for young people
· Continued multi agency working to tackle issues
· Information on alcohol related topics sent to young people via
text messaging or the internet
· Communication and education initiatives to change attitudes and
cultures.
Cllr David Westley, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, said:
"Alcohol is generally associated with having fun and being
sociable. Frighteningly, it is reported that by the age of 13 most
young people have experimented with it. Yet for some, alcohol can
cost them their health, jobs and lives, which is why we have to nip
it in the bud from an early age. This report is a significant step
forward in researching the extent of West Lancashire's problems and
what we can do to try to reduce the effects of society."
Already as a result of the report there has been more work around
'peer group' education. There are also plans to get together a
group of young people to produce a short film to show to other
teenagers, which will centre on alcohol and bullying.
Grant Murdoch, Operational Manager for the Integrated Youth Support
Service said: "The service will work with partners in the community
and in schools to ensure that young people are aware of the
implications of using alcohol and its negative impact on life in
families and on communities. Through our Youth Work and Connexions
teams the service will continue to provide a wide range of positive
opportunities for young people to be informed and to get involved
in positive activities such as youth groups, sports, arts and youth
councils. All of these positive activities provide a range of
choices for young people's spare time. The more choice young people
have of things to do the less likely they are to revert to alcohol
as a diversion. All agencies should make sure they are playing
their part in letting young people know what is on offer.
"Information and advice services are available to help young people
understand the issues and possible difficulties which can arise
from alcohol and a freephone telephone helpline service is set up
to try and ensure that young people can get access to information
and support. The Youth Support Service What Now? telephone helpline
service takes calls up to ten o'clock at night from young people
who want someone to talk to. Young people can call this
confidential service seven days a week on 0800 51 1111."
Various agencies are already involved in a number of initiatives to
tackle alcohol-related problems and an additional £20,000 was
recently set aside by the WLCSP to spearhead even more work.
Bill Taylor, Chairman of the WLCSP, said: "There has been lots of
excellent work happening with this project to help young people
make informed choices later in life about alcohol. It has proved so
successful that we decided to give them additional funding so that
they can continue the good work because alcohol can be a major
cause of anti social behaviour, criminal damage, violent crime and
many other offences that we are trying to tackle."
To read the full 'Alcohol Awareness Report', or to find out more
about the work of the WLCSP, visit our Community Saftey pages.
Related information
> Youth