Link for advice to schoolies says: How to get wasted

Hamish Heard
A new Surf Coast Shire website to attract schoolies to Torquay directs revellers to information about “safe” use of alcohol and drugs.
The shire launched its website this week as groups of underage schoolies plotted ways to buy alcohol when they flocked to Torquay during November’s end-of-school celebrations.
The site, www.schooliesdownsouth.com.au, links to a State Government page detailing ways to drink safely and reduce risks from consuming illegal drugs.
The link advises schoolies not to mix substances, to try a small sample of any particular drug before taking the rest and not to take drugs while alone.
According to another website devoted to schoolies week in Tor-quay, using fake proof-of-age identification or 18-year-old mates are the methods of choice for underage revellers wanting alcohol.
The site revealed that multiple groups of up to 100 school leavers had found accommodation in Torquay and were finalising plans to bluff their way into local pubs.
Melton’s ‘Stickbug’ was looking forward to the challenge of sneaking into Torquay and Jan Juc pubs.
“Half the fun of drinking and going out is the fact that you’re underage and it’s illegal, so it makes it more exciting,” he wrote on the website.
‘Torrydude’, from Moorool-bark, wrote: “two of my mates are aren’t going to be 18 so we might go to the beach and p..s up there unless they get IDs”.
Lorne residents should also brace for a week of drunken schoolies antics.
Wantirna’s ‘Peepz’, 17, predicted long days in the sun “p..sing on” and “going off”.
Other websites are advertising ways for schoolies to get fake IDs.
The shire’s youth services team leader, Glen Barton, said the Schoolies Down South website “gives students another option when picking out schoolies destinations”.
“We need to get more information out to school leavers and their parents who are interested in enjoying a more chilled-out schoolies,” Mr Barton said.
The shire was also organising free barbecues, youth workers and health clinics to keep schoolies occupied.
“Another initiative is SMS notification which allows schoolies to receive information on what will be happening during the day and at night throughout the week,” he said.