Interactive underage drinking programme to visit schools
Smashed is a global educational initiative that addresses underage drinking through interactive methods.
In the 2023/24 school year alone, it reached more than 80,000 students in Great Britain.
Since its inception, it has educated over 580,000 students in Great Britain and 5.5 million students worldwide.
The programme is set to visit Glasgow and Lanarkshire’s secondary schools including Calderglen High School, Airdrie Academy, Brannock High School and Bishopbriggs Academy, in the coming weeks.
The aim is to reduce the risks and harms associated with underage drinking among young Scots.
The international educational theatre production, created by Collingwood Learning and supported by Diageo, started its tour in September in Aberdeen.
By the end of October, it will have reached 24 schools in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Lanarkshire.
Smashed uses a combination of live theatre performances, interactive workshops and digital experiences to educate young people about the dangers of alcohol use.
Professional actors 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.
In the 2023/24 school year, 73 per cent of students in Great Britain said they were less likely to drink alcohol underage following the ‘Smashed’ performance.
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 Scotland 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 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, and our team is eager to engage young people in Scotland about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage.”
The programme, developed in consultation with young people and recognised for its educational impact, has a proven positive effect.
The latest UK evaluation report indicated that after attending a ‘Smashed’ session, 83 per cent of students stated they had ‘some’ or ‘lots’ of knowledge about the risks of drinking alcohol underage.
Additionally, 89 per cent of students stated that they feel equipped to make the right choices about drinking alcohol, and 87 per cent of students stated that if they or someone they knew were having problems with alcohol, they would know where to get help.
The tour dates for include October 1 at Woodfarm High School and Bishopbriggs Academy, October 2 at Cardinal Newman High School, October 3 at Calderglen High School and Gleniffer High School, October 4 at Braidhurst High School and Linwood High School, October 7 at St Andrew’s Academy and Our Lady’s High School, October 8 at Airdrie Academy and St Ninian’s High School, October 9 at Taylor High School, October 10 at Brannock High School, and October 11 at Kilsyth Academy.
For more information on the ‘Smashed’ programme and its upcoming tour, visit their website.