Two secondary schools in York have received a crucial lesson on the risks of underage drinking this week.
That’s because the award-winning alcohol awareness theatre production ‘Smashed’ has returned to North Yorkshire.
Smashed is an international educational production by Collingwood Leaning and supported by drinks company Diageo.
Diageo has supported Smashed since it began in 2005, and the programme, developed in consultation with young people and recognised for its educational impact.
This initiative will use engaging performances to educate those watching about the consequences of underage drinking.
Now in its 20th year, ‘Smashed’ has delivered educational performances to students in 38 countries around the world.
Combining drama with interactive workshops, professional actors deliver a 25-minute performance followed by a 35-minute workshop.
Participants can reflect on the themes and answer questions about the choices made by the characters.
In an effort to reduce underage drinking and its associated harms among young people, the company will visit 9 schools across North Yorkshire.
The Smashed tour took place at Millthorpe School on Monday and York High School on Tuesday.
In the 2023-24 school year, 73% of students in Great Britain said they were less likely to drink alcohol underage following the Smashed performance.
This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering a culture of health and well-being among adolescents.
Smashed is not just about informing students, it focuses on transforming attitudes and behaviours towards alcohol consumption.
The full North Yorkshire schools tour schedule is as follows:
- Monday 21st October
Millthorpe School – York
Ashville College – Harrogate
- Tuesday 22nd October
York High School – York
- Wednesday 23rd October
Sherburn High School – Sherburn in Elmet
Ripon Grammar School – Ripon
- Thursday 24th October
Filey School – Filey
- Friday 25th October
George Pindar School – Eastfield
Graham School – Scarborough
- Friday 6th December
Upper Wharfedale School – Threshfield
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 North Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire with Smashed Live in Autumn 2024.
“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 Yorkshire about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage.”
For more information on Smashed and their workshops, click here.