Students at three schools in Bournemouth and Poole are to receive a lesson on the risks of underage drinking from an educational theatre production.
Smashed is visiting Bournemouth School for Girls and Broadstone Middle School today and Poole Grammar School on Thursday.
The production, by Collingwood Learning and supported by Diageo, uses interactive performances to educate students about the causes and consequences of underage drinking.
Now in its 20th year, it’s delivered educational performances to students in 38 countries with ten Dorset schools due to be visited as part of its biggest tour of the UK to date.
The project uses a combination of live theatre performances, interactive workshops and digital experiences to educate young people about the dangers of alcohol use.
Smashed uses professional actors to present a 25-minute performance followed by a 35-minute workshop where participants reflect on the themes and answer questions about the choices made by the characters.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering a culture of health and well-being among adolescents.
In the 2023 to 2024 school year, 73 per cent of students in Great Britain said they were less likely to drink alcohol underage following the Smashed performance.
Smashed works in close collaboration with Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs), an organisation which brings together councils, police, retailers, schools, health providers, and community groups across the UK to reduce alcohol related harm among young people.
Data from the government shows that hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions among under 18s in Dorset are above England’s national average (45.4 per 100,000 versus 26.0 per 100,000).
Chris Simes, Managing Director at Collingwood Learning, said: “We are excited to return to Dorset with Smashed Live this Spring.
“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 Dorset about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage.”
Smashed reached over 80,000 students in Great Britain in the 2023/24 school year and has now educated over 580,000 students in this country and 5.5 million students globally.