Old enough to know what’s right
Jun 27 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal
CHILDREN not even old enough to drink have been doing their bit to educate youngsters about the dangers of alcohol misuse.
Six primary schools in Gateshead have been involved in a competition to design posters warning of the damage that can be caused by alcohol to people, families and the community.
And their work will get a region-wide audience. Go Ahead has agreed to display the posters on the backs of their buses to ensure adults all around the area heed the children’s warnings. The posters will also be on display in Metro stations.
The Gateshead’s Kids Say poster campaign involved nine and 10-year-olds from schools in Bensham to raise awareness and provide information about where to go to access help.
Coun Peter Mole said: “Alcohol misuse can have a devastating effect on families and communities, so anything we can do to limit that effect is important.”
Three first prize winners – Jack Holmes from Corpus Christi, Demi Milner from St Joseph’s and Becky Knight from Caedmon Primary School – received gift vouchers at a special launch event at Caedmon Primary School yesterday.
The winners’ schools also received cheques for £200 to pay for school resources or for alcohol awareness training.
Last week, the largest public health debate to be held in the region was launched by Balance, the North East alcohol office, to assess the impact of drink on the region. The debate aims to provide a comprehensive study of the attitudes towards, and relationships with, alcohol by encouraging members of the public to fill in a questionnaire.
Natalie Goodman, drug and alcohol coordinator at Gateshead Council’s Drug Action Team said: “Our families, our communities and our own lives are affected in many ways by alcohol, and the North East Big Drink Debate is a good way to begin an honest debate about what we really think about alcohol.”
THE North East Big Drink Debate questionnaire is available online, as well as being distributed on high streets across the region. Drinkers and non-drinkers alike are being asked to take part in the survey. For more information and to fill in an online questionnaire go to this story on www.journallive.co.uk
