Young Person's Alcohol Project, Lancashire

Catherine Westwell, Project Officer for Lancashire's Young Person's Alcohol Project, sends news of some interesting initiatives, including:

• Age Check resource for retailers selling age-restricted goods.  This is being promoted by the Trading Standards Institute as an example of good practice
• teaching package Carrying the Can to help address problems associated with binge drinking, for use within Key Stage 4
• a 'lifestyle' website aimed at children under the age of 10

The project is funded by Lancs Children's Fund and Lancs Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, and aims to:

• raise young people's awareness of alcohol issues through countywide consultation and marketing campaigns
• facilitate a countywide co-ordinated appraoch, developing best practice protocols to tackle local community alcohol-related issues
• improve the co-ordination and promote the development of service provision in realtion to both young people and communities

More details of the Young Person's project here.

The project has also carried out some research.  The first study looked into the role of parenting in young people's drinking, by considering the role of parents in relation to preventing and addressing the misuse of alcohol by young people, and raising awareness amongst parents and to consider their own roles and influences .  Download it here.

Another study surveyed the attitudes and expriences of young people to alcohol.  Both studies were used to inform education and awareness campaigns.  Download the survey report here.

A third study analysed gaps in substance misuse services for young people in the county and made recomendations for their development.  Download it here.   See also earlier post on Home Office research on service provision for young people.