Geelong community groups and young people are helping parents ‘say no’ to alcohol for people under 18.
Meli, Communities That Care (CTC), Barwon Health, and the Youth Advisory Group of nine young people collaborated on the campaign, which featured a video with the ‘I Need You to Say No’ message.
Meli chief executive Grant Boyd said the campaign used the video, posters, social media, and educational resources to reduce the consumption of alcohol by young people under 18.
“This campaign has been driven by young people urging parents and other trusted adults to step up to the challenge of saying no, which is not always easy in our society,” he said.
“Every day at Meli, we see the impacts of alcohol on young people and families, which is why this campaign is so important.
“Parents can play a big role in influencing young people’s attitudes to drinking as well as their access to alcohol.”
Barwon Health’s Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Services clinical director Professor Steve Moylan said young people were more at risk of alcohol-related harm as their brains developed.
“Under-age drinking can lead to risky behaviour and injuries, mental ill-health and lead to harmful alcohol use later in life,” he said.
“We hope this campaign will encourage parents to re-think providing young people with alcohol. The video is a great conversation starter for families.”
CTC co-ordinator Louise McDonald said reducing alcohol at a young age and encouraging parents not to supply their children with alcohol was a priority area for the not-for-profit training company.
“Getting information to parents is hard,” she said.
“We thought that if the messages came from the young people themselves, it would be more powerful and have more of an impact.”
For more information or to watch the campaign’s video, visit meli.org.au/i-need-you-to-say-no-campaign/
