Divert relays a safe drinking message this St. Patrick’s Day
For the second year running The Divert Project are promoting their: ‘Don’t Drown With Your Shamrock’ campaign which is aimed at promoting safe and responsible behaviour in the run up to the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Divert Project is an alcohol and drug education, prevention and early intervention service throughout the Foyle Trust Area. Diverts services are categorised into three main areas: Parents & Carers, Vulnerable Young People and Children of Substance Users. Aside from their mainstream work Divert also run various campaigns at heightened festive times of the year when alcohol misuse becomes a greater issue.
For this years event Divert have expanded their ‘Don’t Drown with Your Shamrock’ initiative. A customised wrist band has been designed alongside a safe drinking educational leaflet targeted towards vulnerable young people. Divert will also have a billboard on the back of Free Derry Wall from Friday 13th – 20th March which will launch our ‘Don’t Drown with Your Shamrock’ initiative. The aim of the billboard will be to heighten awareness to the general public of the implications of over indulging at this festive time.
Four Divert staff will be on the ground during the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations handing out beer mats around various city centre bars and chatting to the publicans. The beer mat will have useful guidelines on safe limits and will dispel myths surrounding alcohol. They will be targeted at an older audience in order to portray the impact of ‘Knowing your Units, Knowing your Limits’ initiative.
The alcohol safety message will be distributed from the 9th March throughout thirty Youth Clubs across Derry / Strabane and Limavady with short workshops in relation to safe drinking. At these workshops 1000 wrist bands and educational leaflets will be distributed to young people.
As there is a variety of events arranged over the course of the St Patrick’s weekend it is essential that people take on board the safety message being communicated. A source from Divert has stated: ‘we have a social responsibility to create a climate in which individual’s young and old, adopt an attitude which demonstrates responsible behaviour as well as a sensible attitude to the consumption of alcohol over the course of the weekend festivities’.
Divert therefore encourages people to think about what they are drinking, consider the amounts and ensure that they stay within the recommended guidance as well as ensuring that they have a safe passage home at the end of their evening so that they experience a happy, safe and enjoyable St Patrick’s Day. Contact Divert Project 02871 269327.
