Teen street drinkers introduced to their livers

Teen street drinkers introduced to their livers.

Gangs of teen street drinkers will see how the impact of their drinking affects their health, especially their liver, as well as putting their personal safety at risk.

The council’s youth service, in partnership with Early Break, will be hitting the streets of Rochdale rounding up the young drinkers and inviting them onto the youth service’s ‘Where it’s at’ youth bus.

On the bus, young people will be able to watch DVDs about the consequences of ‘getting wasted’, wear their ‘beer goggles’ and experience sober how their reactions and sight is impaired when they are drunk. A real liver damaged by excessive drinking will be on display and youth workers hope it will encourage the teens into reassessing their drinking habits.

The Early Break workers and youth service detached workers will be targeting known antisocial behaviour hot spots in Milnrow on Thursday (22 October) and Littleborough on Friday (23 October), 6pm-9pm and giving the youngsters a lesson in responsible drinking as part of national Alcohol Awareness Week 2009.

Any young people found to be abusing alcohol to a harmful amount, or who admits they are concerned about their drinking habits, will be referred to Early Break young people’s drug and alcohol service. The youth service will give the teens details of activities and projects they can get involved with instead of hanging out on the streets.

Chris Whitaker, Alcohol Early Intervention Worker from Early Break said: “We’re excited about working in partnership with the council, NHS and police during Alcohol Awareness Week this year.

“We work specifically with young people to address their alcohol problems or concerns. All information is treated confidentially and we find that a lot of the time young people just want someone to listen.”

The Drink Aware Trust has funded Early Break to deliver awareness around the risks and effects associated with alcohol to young people in the Pennines.

Ed Kelly, Head of the Youth Service at Rochdale Council, added: “Harmful drinking puts these teens' personal safety at risk when they’re drinking on the street. It’s also intimidating for residents.

“Our mobile youth bus engages young people who are hanging around on the streets into positive activities that we offer at time when young people say they want them.

"We have increased the number of weekend and night-time activities on offer and as a result 58% more young people are using the youth service.”