BY MARK MCKELVEY

A local youth alcohol worker has revealed that there is a serious underage drink culture in the Omagh area and to combat that they are introducing a more intensive education programme aimed at a younger age group.

This week an Alcohol Concern report on the government's alcohol harm reduction strategy highlighted figures that suggest a large increase in the amount of alcohol being drunk by 11 to 13-year-olds with the revelation that two-thirds of 12-15-year-olds get most of their alcohol from parents.

The charity's call for alcohol education to be introduced in the National Curriculum, was welcomed by Lisa Mullan, a youth alcohol outreach worker based in the Anchorage Drop-in Centre in Omagh.

Lisa revealed in the past few weeks responding to research carried out locally, she has started visiting schools in the Omagh area as part of her new alcohol awareness programme aimed at 13 to 14 years olds, during an intensive four week sessions.

"I have just started the programme but the schools have been very receptive so far," said Lisa. "As we are approaching the end of the school year we will be getting prepared to fully start the programme in September.

"My colleague who was in this role previously was only holding one hour sessions with 15, 16 and 17 year olds, and from her findings she recommended that we had to approach them from a younger age and extend the time of discussions as one hour isn't enough.

"Spread over a four week period we have found they are more likely to listen and take in the information."

Although Lisa has only visited three schools so far she expressed the results have been very responsive, stating, "People are starting to identify that there is a problem in the Omagh area that needs to be addressed."

Lisa explained what the programme entails, "Schools in the local area had found there was a big problem concerning alcohol and youths in the Omagh area and felt this programme is very important.

"Week one — what is alcohol? and also handing out a questionnaire to find out how often they drink, when they first started drinking, where do they purchase alcohol to conduct a survey to find out fully the facts of how severe the problem is in the local area.

"Week two — talk about the effects both psychological and physically of alcohol and find out their attitudes towards drinking.

"Week three — alcohol myths and facts

"Week four — a review with a discussion of personal development, how to be assertive and deal with depression and be able to say no. We also at this stage discuss the connection between alcohol and sex, doing things when drinking that they may not normally do when sober.

"From the questionnaires we have discovered there is an alcohol problem with the 13 to 14 age range," concluded Lisa.