Alcohol education programme Smashed to visit nine schools

Smashed, an international educational theatre production by Collingwood Learning and supported by Diageo, is visiting schools throughout Greater Manchester.

The programme, which is in its 20th year, aims to educate students about the causes and consequences of underage drinking through interactive performances.

Smashed combines live theatre performances, interactive workshops, and digital experiences to educate young people about the dangers of alcohol use.

Professional actors 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 programme aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 'fostering a culture of health and well-being among adolescents.'

In the 2023/24 school year, Smashed reached over 80,000 students in Great Britain (Image: Supplied)

In the 2023–2024 school year, 73 per cent of students in Great Britain said they were 'less likely to drink alcohol underage following the Smashed performance.'

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 Greater Manchester 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, said: "We are excited to return to Greater Manchester 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 Greater Manchester about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage."

87 per cent of students stated that if they or someone they knew were having problems with alcohol, they would know where to get help (Image: Supplied)

Smashed has educated more than 580,000 students in Great Britain and 5.5 million students globally.

The programme has a 'proven positive impact', with the latest UK evaluation report indicating that after attending a Smashed session, 83 per cent of students stated they had ‘some’ or ‘lots’ of knowledge about the risks of drinking alcohol underage.

Additionally, 89 per cent of students stated that they feel equipped to make the right choices about drinking alcohol.

With a goal to educate 10 million young people by 2030, the programme expanded in 2021 with Smashed Online, which uses filmed clips, interactive tools, and assessments that can be completed in schools or from home.