Students highlight alcohol danger

Friday, 30 October 2009
A group of media students from Brooksby Melton College have written a short film for teenagers aiming to underline the dangers of drinking to excess.

The film was made in partnership with Leicestershire Constabulary, the NHS, and Melton Borough Council.

Local beat police officers were keen to target issues of underage drinking after encountering it on their rounds.

Early feedback from local young people suggest the hard-hitting short film has been a success.

Hidden in the dark

PC Lou Wills is the neighbourhood beat officer in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. While carrying out routine patrols last summer she came across small groups of youths who had been drinking to the extreme.

"They normally do it hidden away in the parks in the dark.


The kids have definitely told us that they feel at times we preach to them and we don't understand

PC Lou Wills, Melton beat officer
"And then not only is their health in danger because of the amount of alcohol they drink but they then become very venerable, and that's what we're concerned about."

This spurred her to look for a new way of highlighting the dangers of alcohol to local young people aged 12 to 17, along with the borough council and NHS.

"Really we were thinking from an older person's point of view and the kids have definitely told us that they feel at times we preach to them and we don't understand."

Jacob Peneston, who wrote and directed the short piece, agrees that teenagers are more likely to respond to people of similar age who are more in touch with the underage drinking culture.

"I think it's a lot more effective, because if you watch something made by adults they think they know everything and made by us we know what's happened recently and how it's done."

The 20-year-old Brooksby student says the film does not directly discourage underage drinking, but warns them to "know their limits, when to stop".

PC Wills has received positive feedback from Melton's young people who feel they can relate the the catchy music, and local setting.

the movie can be seen on this website:




Juraj Filip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8331000/8331979.stm