SECONDARY school students across Scotland are to receive lessons on the risks of underage alcohol use to further boost awareness.
Smashed, an international educational theatre production by Collingwood Learning and supported by Diageo, will tour 24 schools across Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Lanarkshire this autumn.
Throughout September and October this year, the initiative will use interactive performances to try and 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 hopes to educate young people about the dangers of alcohol use.
The initiative 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.
The project attempts to align its goals with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering a culture of health and well-being among adolescents.
This is part of a bid to transform attitudes and behaviours towards alcohol consumption amongst young people.
According to a survey of 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 collaboration with Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs), an organisation which brings together range of groups across the UK to reduce alcohol related harm among young people.
Nuno Teles, managing director at Diageo GB, said: “I am so proud that ‘Smashed’ has reached its 20th 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.
“At Diageo, we are deeply committed to tackling underage drinking.
“We hope that the students we are visiting across Scotland will not only gain valuable insights from the performances, but also leave better informed and prepared to make responsible choices.”
Chris Simes, managing director at Collingwood Learning, said: “We are excited to return to Scotland with Smashed Live in Autumn 2024.
“Despite the progress made in reducing underage drinking across Scotland, it remains crucial to continue reinforcing our message.
“Our team is eager to engage young people in Scotland about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage.”
Premium drinks specialist Diego say that their support for the initiative is part of their commitment to promoting moderation and tackling alcohol harm across the UK.
It has supported Smashed since it began in 2005 and says the programme, which is developed in consultation with young people, could be seen as having a positive impact.
They point to 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.
This year’s tour schedule is set to cover the following schools across Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Lanarkshire:
Aberdeen
September 9-13, 2024: Performances in schools including Millburn Academy, Grantown Grammar School, and Peterhead Academy.
Edinburgh
September 17-27, 2024: Engagements at schools such as James Gillespie’s High, St. Augustine’s RC High School, and Dalkeith High School.
Lanarkshire
October 1-11, 2024: Sessions at Woodfarm High School, Cardinal Newman High School, and St. Ninian’s High School, among others.
