SIXTH FORM: Making informed & safer choices around alcohol

UPPER sixth form students spent a busy morning challenging perceptions, playing the alcohol clock game and discussing everything from units, to spiking, consent, looking after each other, signs of problem drinking and where to go to for help.

Speaker Kathryn Arnott-Gent, of the Alcohol Education Trust, said: “I was delighted to be invited to talk to Year 13 students, this is such an important year group to engage with before they transition from school or college to gap years, work or university.

“As young people begin to navigate the world of parties, pubs, clubs, festivals and independence, we equip young adults with the knowledge, awareness and strategies needed to stay safer around alcohol and drugs.

“We work directly with young people age 16-plus to help prepare them for the legal drinking age (if they decide to drink) by helping them to make informed, safer choices, knowing where to go for help and support if they need it and how to look not only after themselves, but their friends too.”

She explained: “Children who drink regularly and heavily before the age of 15 are significantly more likely to try drugs, smoke, engage in unprotected or risky sex, be injured or assaulted. GCSE predictions fall by 20 points, the difference between a grade 9 and a grade 5.

“By intervening early, we aim to reach children before they begin drinking and help them work out why it makes sense to wait until they are older (if they choose to drink) and how early and heavy drinking increases their risk of injury, accidents and assault and makes them more vulnerable to others. We build young people’s resilience and life skills, helping them make responsible, informed choices as they encounter alcohol.”

*The Alcohol Education Trust is a small, focused charity which works across the UK to keep young people safe around alcohol. It is a leading early intervention charity that supports young people aged 11 to 25 in making more informed life choices through the schools and youth organisations and aims to support parents, carers, teachers and community leaders to keep young people safe around alcohol and to reduce negative risk taking.

Adult Education Trust Parent Guide: ParentGuide.pdf (alcoholeducationtrust.org)

Adult Education Trust Teen Guide: TeenGuide-1.pdf (alcoholeducationtrust.org)