Newquay takes more steps to cut down underage drinking
By joelg1974 | Thursday, July 22, 2010, 23:28
‘Got your Back’ Chill out cafe in Newquay
Drinkaware's exclusive alcohol-free venue for 16 and 17 year olds will be open in July this summer.
The Fistral Blu café overlooking popular Fistral Beach will be transformed into the ‘Got Your Back’ café, an alcohol-free haven where friends can meet, hang out and eat discounted food while having access to alcohol facts and information.
The café will be open for six exclusive days for 16 and 17 year olds and Exodus participants on Mondays and Fridays offering a safe and fun environment with free facilities including a photo booth, table football, DJ decks, TV and Wii games, internet access and a phone charging station.
Drinkaware, the alcohol awareness charity, is running the café exclusively for 16 and 17 year olds to tackle alcohol misuse in the town amongst the thousands of teenagers set to celebrate the end of GSCE and AS Level exams in Newquay, Cornwall, this summer.
Drinkaware’s ‘Got Your Back’ campaign, launched in conjunction with the Newquay Safe Partnership, aims to encourage friends to look out for each other, think about the risks of excessive drinking and provide advice to keep teens safe. The ‘Got Your Back’ Café at Fistral Blu will be open to those with Exodus wristbands on 5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 19th and 23rd July.
Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware says: “There are identifiable links between alcohol use and unprotected sex, injury and accidents, but all too often this is the last thing on young people’s minds when they’re drinking. Talking to young people about alcohol and discussing the risks with them, is all part of tackling excessive drinking among teens.
“Drinkaware has based itself in Newquay for part of the summer to engage with young people directly in the popular holiday hotspot. With around 6,000 post GCSE students set to arrive in Newquay after exams, the Fistral Blu Café will provide a safe sanctuary for teenagers to chill out and have fun with friends while being provided with tips to stay safe.”
Parents whose children are going on holiday with friends after exams this summer can get support and advice on how to talk to their teens about alcohol in the dedicated Parent section of the Drinkaware website at www.drinkaware.co.uk/parents.
Comments
Good idea, but the thing is I was watching some of the teens on holiday in Newquay on the news the other night. They were talking openly in front of the camera saying that just because the police were checking bags at the station etc they would still find ways to get alcohol, that's what their aim was and they were pretty confident that was what they were going to do. Those kind of people aren't goin to use these facilities. They're hellbent on getting wasted and they'll still find a way to do that.
By Em_Williams at 09:38 on 29/07/10
ReportI like the idea but I'm not sure it'll solve the problem. Kids always want to seem grown-up and drinking alcohol is part of that. Will kids go to a place that also educates them on the dangers of drinking? The best place to teach them is in schools.
By irgmcdonald at 20:00 on 25/07/10
ReportGood on Fistral Blu for making itself teen friendly. Young people deserve somewhere cool and funky like there!
By LoulabellaF at 20:32 on 24/07/10
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