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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