Alcohol education programme ‘Smashed’ celebrates twenty years in Great Britain with largest secondary school tour to date.
- ‘Smashed’ is a ground-breaking global educational initiative that addresses the pressing issue of underage drinking through engaging and interactive methods.
- During the 2023/24 school year, Smashed reached over 80,000 students in Great Britain.
- Smashed has educated over 580,000 students in Great Britain and 5.5 million students globally.
- 78% of students stated that they were less likely to drink alcohol underage following Smashed performances globally.
Tour Visits North Wales
Secondary school students across North Wales are set to receive a crucial lesson on the risks of underage drinking. It’s an an effort to reduce underage drinking and its associated harms among young people.
Smashed, an international educational theatre production by Collingwood Learning and supported by Diageo, will visit 17 schools in North Wales. From 7th to 17th October, this impactful initiative will use engaging interactive performances to educate students about the causes and consequences of underage drinking.
Smashed will be 5 visiting schools in Wrexham, starting today:
- Ysgol Morgan Llwyd on Tuesday 8th
- Darland High School on Thursday 10th
- Ysgol Rhiwabon on Friday 11th
- Ysgol Rhosnesni on Monday 14th
- The Maelor School on Thursday 17th
38 Countries Around the World
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 educates young people about the dangers of alcohol use. Combining drama with interactive workshops, Smashed uses professional actors to present a 25-minute performance. This is followed by a 35-minute workshop where participants reflect on the themes and answer questions about the choices made by the characters.
This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering a culture of health and well-being among adolescents. It’s a critical demographic for instilling lifelong healthy habits. Smashed does not merely inform; it transforms attitudes and behaviours towards alcohol consumption among young people. In 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 close collaboration with Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs). CAPs is an organisation which brings together councils, police, retailers, schools, health providers, and community groups. It operates across the UK to reduce alcohol related harm among young people.
Wales Makes Progress
Wales is making progress in reducing levels of underage drinking. Previous research by the Welsh Government established that 81% of 11–16-year-olds have either never drunk or rarely drink alcohol. However, there is still more to be done to drive down the rate of underage drinking across the country. It’s important to educate young people on the risks associated with alcohol misuse[1].
Nuno Teles, Managing Director at Diageo GB, said: “I am so proud that ‘Smashed’ has reached its twentieth 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 with a proven significant increase in understanding of the dangers of underage drinking. At Diageo, we are deeply committed to tackling underage drinking and we hope that the students we are visiting across North Wales will not only gain valuable insights from the performances, but also leave better informed and prepared to make responsible choices about alcohol.”
Chris Simes, Managing Director at Collingwood Learning, added: “We are excited to return to North Wales with Smashed Live in Autumn 2024. Despite the progress made in reducing underage drinking across Great Britain, it remains crucial to continue reinforcing our message, and our team is eager to engage young people across North Wales about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage.”
Diageo’s Commitment
Diageo is committed to promoting moderation and tackling alcohol harm across the UK. It has supported Smashed since it began in 2005, and the programme, developed in consultation with young people and recognised for its educational impact, has a proven positive impact, with 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. This platform uses filmed clips, interactive tools, and assessments that can be completed in schools or from home.
Useful Links
For more information on the Smashed programme and its upcoming tour, please visit: https://www.smashedproject.org/
Schools not reached by the live tour also can take part in Smashed Online. To find out more, please visit: https://online.smashedproject.org/gb/
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