Secondary students across Lanarkshire are set to receive a hard-hitting lesson in the dangers of underage drinking in an effort to drive down alcohol consumption and harm amongst youngsters.
Smashed , an international theatre production developed and presented by Collingwood Learning and supported by Diageo, will visit 10 secondary schools across the area this week with the aim of educating pupils at a grassroots level about the causes and consequences of underage drinking.
Although it has declined over the past decade, Scottish Government figures show a slight increase in rates of underage drinking since 2018.
Each Smashed session combines a 25-minute dramatic performance, taking the youngsters on a journey using live theatre, followed by a 35-minute interactive workshop which allows students to reflect on vital underage drinking themes and answer questions about the choices made by the characters in the performance.
Wherever they exist, 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 harm among young people.
Smashed has been running for over 17 years, with educational performances being delivered to students in over 20 countries around the world.
Chris Simes, managing director at Collingwood Learning, told Lanarkshire LIve : “We are delighted to be returning to Scotland with Smashed Live.
"In the aftermath of the pandemic, the response from schools to a live in-school event has been overwhelmingly positive and our team of talented actors are committed to engaging young people in Scotland on important messages around the potential health and social harms of drinking underage.”
Diageo has long committed to promoting moderation and tackling alcohol harm across the UK and has supported Smashed since it began in 2005.
Nuno Teles, managing director at Diageo GB, said: “ Smashed aims to empower young people by equipping them with the knowledge, awareness, and confidence to understand the dangers of underage drinking.
"Creating a positive impact in the communities in which we operate is critical to our business and the Smashed programme has a proven track record of delivering outstanding results in secondary schools.
"We are so delighted to welcome the tour to Scotland so we can empower the next generation to drink responsibly.”
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