PRESS RELEASE – 02.04.06
Parents are ‘crucial’ in fight against dangerous drinking trend
Parents have a vital role to play in addressing the problems
around underage drinking in Lurgan. That was the clear message
coming out of the public meeting on Thursday night, hosted by
Lurgan Catalyst Parent.
Speakers on the evening included Inspector Ken Annett, PSNI, Leo
Foy, Southern Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team, and Kevin
O’Connor, Chairman of Armagh Vintners, who shared from their own
experiences of the problem in Lurgan. Despite the best efforts of
the PSNI, community youth workers and responsible publicans,
particular concern was raised over the number of underage young
people still on the streets with alcohol, including ‘hotspots’
where upwards of 300 young people are found hanging around
drinking at the weekend, only highlighting the need for active
parental involvement in addressing this issue. Concern was also
raised over the vulnerability of those young people involved and
the activities that arise as a consequence of alcohol abuse,
including drug use, sexual activity, crime and anti-social
behaviour.
Not only is there a greater need for agencies to work together on
this issue, but also a key part of tackling the problem is raising
individual and community awareness around the serious implications
of alcohol misuse for individual and public health and safety.
Questions were raised about where the young people were getting
the alcohol, with a large number obtaining it through older
teenagers and adults. Concern was also expressed about the need to
ensure that the law is enforced by the licensing industry.
Proposed changes to Liquor Licensing laws in Northern Ireland will
increase the outlets where alcohol can be bought and sold, only
adding to the problems of monitoring and controlling underage
drinking. 98.7% of respondents to the public consultation objected
to any changes to the licensing arrangements.
Michele Wilkinson, Community Development Worker with Lurgan
Catalyst Parent, commented:
“There is a lot of good work going on in the community with young
people, which we are not always aware of. Lurgan Catalyst Parent
wants to inform and educate parents and carers of the various
opportunities and activities for young people in the Lurgan area
so that we are providing them with credible alternatives to the
drinking culture and putting to the fore their own personal
development.”
At the end of the public meeting, those in attendance were
encouraged to sign up to the vision and aim of Lurgan Catalyst
Parent, which is to bring about community change in Lurgan so that
it’s easier for children and underage young people in the Lurgan
area to be alcohol, drug and sex free. The next meeting of Lurgan
Catalyst Parent will take place on Thursday, 6th April at 8.00pm
in Lurgan Town Hall. All parents from the Lurgan area are welcome
to attend.
NOTES:
- Lurgan Catalyst Parent is a project of Love for Life, a
relationship and sexuality education programme reaching around
60% of secondary schools in Northern Ireland and over 30,000
young people annually.
- For more information on the work of Lurgan Catalyst Parent,
please contact Michele or Olwyn at Love for Life on 028 3882
0555.
|
