Facebook-style website warns teens about drinking dangers
Drinkaware recruits youngsters to help get message across to their friends
The Drinkaware Trust has launched a website designed by teenagers to educate their peers about the dangers of drinking.
Truthaboutbooze.com uses a style similar to
social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace
to provide information
on the effects of drinking alcohol .
The site design and content
are based on feedback from under-18s, who also had the opportunity to vote for the name truthaboutbooze.com in an online poll.
Drinkaware
chief executive
Jean Collingwood
said it was the first time
teenagers have been directly asked
what would help them
"make better informed choices" about drinking.
Collingwood said: "We are truly determined to make a difference. The best way to reach young people is to speak in a language they understand. We are a listening organisation and it's about turning what young people are saying into a voice where young people can be heard."
Users will be able to read real-life stories from under-18s affected by alcohol, watch educational videos, discuss drinking-related topics in
forums and get in touch with local and national services that can provide counselling and treatment.
The Drinkaware Trust is also working
with the D oH to create a new responsible drinking campaign. Breaking next spring, the push will focus on providing information about how many units there are in different alcoholic drinks.
Drinkaware has also recently joined forces with Crisis to help cut alcohol misuse among homeless teenagers by sponsoring the Crisis Consequences project, in which
musicians such as Supergrass, The Enemy, Paul Weller and Graham Coxon will come together to record a one-off music track and perform
at a charity gig in Camden
in March.
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