Alcohol Education Programme Visits Schools in Scarborough and Filey

Secondary school students in Scarborough and Filey are set to receive a crucial lesson on the risks of underage drinking, in an effort to reduce underage drinking and its associated harms among young people.

Smashed, an international educational theatre production by Collingwood Learning and supported by Diageo, will visit 9 schools in North Yorkshire including Filey School today along with George Pindar School and Graham School tomorrow. The impactful initiative will use engaging interactive performances to educate students about the causes and consequences of underage drinking.

Now in its 20th year, ‘Smashed’ has delivered educational performances to students in 38 countries around the world. By delivering a combination of live theatre performances, interactive workshops and digital experiences, the project educates young people about the dangers of alcohol use. Combining drama with interactive workshops, Smashed uses professional actors to present a 25-minute performance followed by a 35-minute workshop where participants reflect on the themes and answer questions about the choices made by the characters.

This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering a culture of health and well-being among adolescents, a critical demographic for instilling lifelong healthy habits. Smashed does not merely inform; it transforms attitudes and behaviours towards alcohol consumption among young people. In the 2023 – 2024 school year, 73 % of students in Great Britain said they were less likely to drink alcohol underage following the Smashed performance.

Smashed works in close collaboration with Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs), an organisation which brings together councils, police, retailers, schools, health providers, and community groups across the UK to reduce alcohol related harm among young people. 

In the past decade, the UK has made positive progress in reducing levels of underage drinking.1 However, data from the UK Government shows that hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions among under 18s in North Yorkshire are above England’s national average (29.3 per 100,000 versus 26.0 per 100,000).2

Nuno Teles, Managing Director at Diageo GB, said:

“I am so proud that ‘Smashed’ has reached its twentieth year in Great Britain. This really is a testament to the incredible impact of the programme worldwide, consistently delivering a fantastic learning experience for young people with a proven significant increase in understanding of the dangers of underage drinking.

At Diageo, we are deeply committed to tackling underage drinking and we hope that the students we are visiting across North Yorkshire will not only gain valuable insights from the performances, but also leave better informed and prepared to make responsible choices about alcohol.”

Chris Simes, Managing Director at Collingwood Learning, added:

“We are excited to return to North Yorkshire with Smashed Live in Autumn 2024. Despite the progress made in reducing underage drinking across Great Britain, it remains crucial to continue reinforcing our message, and our team is eager to engage young people across North Yorkshire about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage.”

Diageo says it is committed to promoting moderation and tackling alcohol harm across the UK.  It has supported Smashed since it began in 2005, and the programme, developed in consultation with young people and recognised for its educational impact, has a proven positive impact, with the latest UK evaluation report indicating that after attending a Smashed session:    
 
•    83 % of students stated they had ‘some’ or ‘lots’ of knowledge about the risks of drinking alcohol underage.
•    89 % of students stated that they feel equipped to make the right choices about drinking alcohol.
•    87 % of students stated that if they or someone they knew were having problems with alcohol, they would know where to get help.
•    73 % of students stated that they were less likely to drink alcohol underage following the Smashed performance.
 
With a goal to educate 10 million young people by 2030, the programme expanded in 2021 with Smashed Online, which uses filmed clips, interactive tools, and assessments that can be completed in schools or from home.

Schools not reached by the live tour also can take part in Smashed Online at https://online.smashedproject.org/gb/