Ballyclare High Pupils Learn Lessons on Responsible Drinking
By Ballyclare High School on 4 December, 2017
Pupils at Ballyclare Highhad a powerful lesson last week, when they witnessed the reality of alcohol misuse played-out on-stage.
Over 200 pupils watched a performance of ‘Smashed’, a theatre alcohol awareness and education programme led by Collingwood Learning and sponsored by Diageo Northern Ireland.
The cast of ‘Smashed’ delivered a highly engaging show to pupils, telling the story of a group of friends whose misuse of alcohol ends in tragedy. The production explores the causes and consequences of alcohol misuse and helps equip students with tools for understanding and resisting peer influence and supports them in making responsible decisions.
An innovative programme, ‘Smashed’ was designed in consultation with young people and teachers. It includes a live theatre piece delivered by three actors along with an interactive workshop, post-performance discussion and teaching resources endorsed by The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations, and Assessment in Northern Ireland.
‘Smashed’ has visited 20 post primary schools across Northern Ireland in November 2017 covering the North Eastern Education & Library Board area.
Mr Russell Milliken Head of Year 9, said:
“The ‘Smashed’ programme portrays a very important message around responsible drinking and the dangers of underage drinking. We have had a really positive response from students – everyone who watched the show was engaged by the power of the performance. Having the cast of ‘Smashed’ come into our school and help to inform and educate our young people around this important issue is an opportunity that we value.”
Jorge Lopes, Country Director for Diageo Northern Ireland, which sponsors the ‘Smashed’ programme said:
“We believe in educating young people to help them make informed decisions about alcohol consumption in the future. ‘Smashed’ forms part of our broader programme of activities to tackle alcohol misuse and builds on previous visits in recent years when ‘Smashed’ toured 57 schools in the greater Belfast, Londonderry, Fermanagh, Strabane, Lagan Valley, North Down, South Down and Strangford areas reaching over 8,000 year 9 pupils. We have had a really positive response from the schools we have visited – both from the teachers and pupils – and look forward to bringing the programme back again early next year.”
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For more information:
Please contact Simon Tiernan at Aiken PR on 028 9066 3000 or simon@aikenpr.com or Claire Hutchinson, Corporate Relations Manager at Diageo NI on claire.hutchinson@diageo.com or 028 9016 7373.
About Diageo:
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com.
Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.
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