R U Different Tackles Drinking Myths in Swindon
Date: 26 May 2012
R U Different Tackles Drinking Myths in Swindon
R U Different and Swindon Borough Council launched a Social Marketing campaign to promote that the fact the vast majority of Swindon Teenagers are drinking less than people think.
In a recent poll of 595 Year 9 (13 and 14 year old) students across the area, the perception was that 58% of peers in their year group were drinking once a week or greater.
However the anonymous survey revealed the real figure – that 83% of students reported their drinking to be occurring once a month, less or not at all.
The drive is part of the R U Different nationwide Social Norms programme to uncover the truth about teenagers and address misperceptions.
To tackle some of the myths, participating schools have been promoting the positive findings from the survey back to students using a number of engaging methods including classroom quizzes, interactive posters and mobile Apps such as www.knowyourmates.co.uk/dorcan
In addition to alcohol, perception gaps were also significant in the areas of smoking, cannabis and sexual activity.
Leading the project in Swindon is Angela Milliken, Healthy Schools Manager.
“Young people in Swindon and indeed throughout the UK often receive negative publicity in relation to health and lifestyle choices and this can have a negative impact on how they perceive themselves and others around them.
Decisions about drinking alcohol, having sex or smoking tobacco are often made based on peer influence and the false belief that ‘everyone else is doing it’.
The message from this campaign is very clear - the vast majority of Young People in Swindon are making healthy choices and by delaying or resisting risk taking behaviours young people find themselves very much in the majority, not the minority”.
Following a 6 week period of promoting the feedback within schools and to a wider audience, students will be asked to repeat the survey to identify whether their perceptions have changed for the better.
R U Different is currently working with academics at The University of Salford to establish the degree to which these changes in perception will ultimately affect changes in behaviour.
For more details about the programme, visit www.rudifferent.co.uk and www.social-sense.co.uk
For more information about the types of Interventions we can help deliver for your authority or school, contact gary@gencia.co.uk
