Student alcohol campaigns highlight alternatives to drink

Tag : alcohol

Two new campaigns are targeted at seeking a turnaround in thegrowth in alcohol consumption among young people.
Second-level pupils awaiting Junior Certificate results next weekare being encouraged to mark the day at alcohol- and drug-freeevents.
In the build-up to the results, the No Name Club has expressedconcern at the latest Health Service Executive (HSE) research thatfound that 30pc of Irish teens regularly get drunk.
The club, a national voluntary organisation providing a range ofalcohol- and drug free activities for teens, will host over 20events throughout the country on results day, under the bannerPositive Alternatives.
The Positive Alternatives campaign, to be fronted by RTE presenterAidan Power, will include a music festival in Thurles, CoTipperary; a youth festival in Cobh, Co Cork; a foam disco inMountbellew, Co Galway; and a Rose of Carrindine Competition inBalla, Co Mayo.
"No Name Club enables young people to organise and enjoy positivealternatives to alcohol- and drug-centred activities, buildingself-confidence and increasing awareness of the effects of alcoholand drugs to help young people make informed choices when they areolder," said No Name Club chief executive Martin Ryan.
He said teens drank for many reasons such as acceptance, peerpressure, boredom and lack of self-esteem with potentially seriousconsequences.
At present, the organisation has almost 1,000 young people trainedas youth leaders and over 10,000 young teens actively taking partin activities and events each year.
And in Cork, students are being challenged to give up alcohol forjust a single week.
The challenge came as part of an education drive about thealternatives to alcohol products ranging from soft-drinks toalcohol-free beers and wines.