Educating youngsters about the effects of alcohol

With the latest figures showing that alcohol costs the taxpayer an estimated £21 billion a year, the county council has partnered up with Young Addaction Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire Police to educate young people on the effects of alcohol.

As part of a wider education programme, the Alcohol Awareness Workshop is now being delivered in secondary schools across the county, with four schools having already benefited since it launched in October.

Targeted at Year 9 and 10 pupils, the workshop aims to help young people understand what effects alcohol can have on their body and how it can be dangerous, identify the signs of alcohol use, and understand alcohol laws.

Rebecca Homer, young person’s services manager at Young Addaction Lincolnshire, said:“We know that many young people will start drinking alcohol before they turn 18, which is why education programmes like this are so important.

“Delivering the Alcohol Awareness workshops in schools enables us to speak to as many young people as possible and hopefully engage with them before they begin drinking.

“By gaining an understanding of the effects of alcohol and what the consequences can be, these teenagers will be more aware of the dangers, avoiding risky situations and looking after both themselves and their friends.”

Supt Mark Housley, county officer for public protection at Lincolnshire County Council, commented: “Alcohol is a national issue and a challenge for any county, town or city and that’s why, in Lincolnshire, we’re working with schools to educate young people.

“By taking a proactive approach to the problem we’ll be able to reduce the impact alcohol has on our communities in the long term.”

Schools can find out more about the free workshop and complete a booking form by going to www.lincolnshirecountycouncil.gov.uk/parents/schools