SECONDARY school students across North Wales are set to receive a crucial lesson on the risks of underage drinking, in 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 this month. This impactful initiative will use engaging interactive performances to educate students about the causes and consequences of underage drinking.

During their tour, Smashed will visit Wrexham schools Darland High, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Ysgol Rhiwabon, Ysgol Rhosnesni, Maelor School, and in Flintshire, Alun School and Ysgol Maes Garmon in Mold, Castell Alun High in Hope, Hawarden High, Elfed High in Buckley.

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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 followed by a 35-minute workshop where participants reflect on the themes and answer questions about the choices made by the characters.

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This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering a culture of health and wellbeing among adolescents, a critical demographic for instilling lifelong healthy habits. Smashed does not merely inform; it helps transform attitudes and behaviours towards alcohol consumption among young people.

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 related harm among young people.

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Wales is making progress in reducing levels of underage drinking, with previous research by the Welsh Government finding that 81% of 11 to 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 and educate young people on the risks associated with alcohol misuse.

Nuno Teles, managing director at Diageo GB, said: "I am so proud 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 with a proven significant increase in understanding of the dangers of underage drinking.

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"At Diageo, we are deeply committed to tackling underage drinking and we hope 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. 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."

• For more information on the Smashed programme and its upcoming tour, visit: smashedproject.org

Schools not reached by the live tour also can take part in Smashed Online. To find out more, visit: online.smashedproject.org/gb/