Institute of Health & Society: Have your say on young people and alcohol
People from across the North East are invited to take part in a free panel and audience event this month to discuss young people and alcohol in the style of BBC One’s Question Time.
Young people in England are among the heaviest drinkers in Europe (1) and the North East has been shown to have the highest rates of alcohol misuse by young people in the country (2), according to the latest research.
But just what are the harms and benefits of drinking alcohol for young people? To discuss this and much more, attendees are encouraged to come along and have the opportunity to put their questions to a panel of experts from across the region at the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay, from 10.00am to 12.00pm on Saturday 28 September.
The event is the culmination of research carried out by academics from Fuse, which aims to find out if it is possible to conduct a research project with pupils, aged 14 to 15, and their parents, which tries to reduce risky youth drinking. The ‘SIPS JR-HIGH’ project involved a pilot trial in seven comprehensive schools in North Tyneside and the main findings from the study will be discussed at the event.
Dorothy Newbury-Birch, Lecturer in Public Health Research at Newcastle University, who led the study, said: “We want to include young people and their parents in open discussions about alcohol, their perceptions of the harms and benefits of drinking, and what we could and should do to reduce the risks involved.”
The panel will be chaired by the Young Mayor of North Tyneside, Isaac Sidney; and include Councillor Lesley Spillard, North Tyneside Council cabinet member with responsibility for Public Health; and Director of Public Health, Marietta Evans. There will also be representatives from Newcastle University, North Tyneside Youth Cabinet, Schools, A&E, GP’s, Paramedics, Police and BALANCE (the North East of England’s Alcohol Office).
Isaac Sidney, Young Mayor of North Tyneside, said: “With an event like this, I think it’s really important that young people’s views are taken into account and I’m delighted to be chairing the session. The panel represent a wealth of knowledge and the event will provide a good opportunity to present questions and debate issues surrounding alcohol and young people.”
Register now
To join the audience of parents, practitioners, policy makers, researchers and members of the public please complete the online form via this link: http://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=4840
For more details, contact Dr Dorothy Newbury-Birch on +44 (0) 191 222 8500 or email [email protected]