PRESS RELEASE – 14.11.07
Lurgan Catalyst Parent address Underage Drinking
Lurgan Catalyst Parent welcomed members from across the
community to a public meeting on ‘Alcohol and the Law’ in Lurgan
Town Hall last week.
A panel of community representatives and experts on the evening,
including Inspector Ken Annett from the PSNI, Maureen Briggs,
Licensing Officer with Craigavon Borough Council, and Kevin
O’Connor from the Armagh Vintners, addressed the issues and
answered questions.
The clear message coming through on the evening was the need for
partnership in tackling underage drinking. Alcohol abuse is
often linked to other risk taking behaviours among young people
and often the local community suffer as a result of anti-social
behaviour.
Michele Wilkinson, Community Development Worker with Lurgan
Catalyst Parent, commented:
“Central to tackling the issue is the importance of education
and engaging with parents/carers in the Lurgan area. We are
currently running training courses with parents in local sports
clubs, identifying what parents can actively do to prevent their
children making bad choices in the area of alcohol and drugs. It
is vital that parents are engaged in these issues.
“It is only by working together within the local community that
we can effectively challenge the cultural norms around alcohol.
There are a lot of pressures on young people in today’s society
and they need to hear clear messages around the dangers of binge
drinking and engaging in other risk taking behaviours.”
Lurgan Catalyst Parent is encouraging members of the Lurgan
community to sign up to the Catalyst Vision of bringing about
community change so that it’s easier for children and underage
young people to be alcohol, drug and sex free. Please visit the
website www.lurgancatalystparent.org or contact Michele on 3882
0555 for more information.
NOTES
- Lurgan Catalyst Parent is a partnership of individuals,
groups and communities in the Lurgan area who are working
together to make it easier for children and underage young
people to be alcohol, drug and sex free.
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