Thousands of secondary school students are set to learn about the dangers of underage drinking.

The 'Smashed' alcohol education programme is celebrating its twentieth year in Great Britain with its largest secondary school tour to date.

This international initiative aims to tackle the issue of underage drinking through engaging, interactive methods.

In the 2023/24 school year alone, Smashed reached more than 80,000 students across the UK.

Now, it will visit 12 schools in Cheshire until October 25 including in Runcorn, Northwich and Knutsford.

The project, supported by Diageo and Collingwood Learning, has educated more than 580,000 students in Great Britain and 5.5 million globally.

Smashed's efforts have proven effective, with 78 per cent of students worldwide stating they are less likely to engage in underage drinking after participating in the programme.

Smashed combines live theatre performances, interactive workshops, and digital experiences to educate students about the causes and consequences of underage drinking.

The programme uses professional actors to deliver a 25-minute performance, followed by a 35-minute workshop where students reflect on the themes and answer questions about the choices made by the characters.

'Smashed' combines live theatre performances, interactive workshops, and digital experiences to educate students (Image: Supplied) This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by promoting health and well-being among adolescents.

In collaboration with Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs), Smashed works with councils, police, retailers, schools, health providers, and community groups to reduce alcohol-related harm among young people.

Despite the positive progress made in reducing levels of underage drinking in the UK, hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions among under 18s in Cheshire West remain above England’s national average.

Nuno Teles, managing director at Diageo GB, said: "I am so proud that Smashed has reached its twentieth year in Great Britain.

"This really is a testament to the incredible impact of the programme worldwide, consistently delivering a fantastic learning experience for young people with a proven significant increase in understanding of the dangers of underage drinking.

"At Diageo, we are deeply committed to tackling underage drinking and we hope that the students we are visiting across Cheshire will not only gain valuable insights from the performances, but also leave better informed and prepared to make responsible choices about alcohol."

The initiative encourages students to think about the consequences of underage drinking (Image: Supplied) Chris Simes, managing director at Collingwood Learning, added: "We are excited to return to Cheshire with Smashed Live in Autumn 2024.

"Despite the progress made in reducing underage drinking across Great Britain, it remains crucial to continue reinforcing our message, and our team is eager to engage young people in Cheshire about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage."

The programme's positive impact is evidenced by the latest UK evaluation report, which shows that after attending a Smashed session, 83 per cent of students stated they had 'some' or 'lots' of knowledge about the risks of underage drinking.

89 per cent said they feel equipped to make the right choices about drinking alcohol, and 87 per cent stated that if they or someone they knew were having problems with alcohol, they would know where to get help.

With a goal to educate 10 million young people by 2030, the programme expanded in 2021 with Smashed Online, which uses filmed clips, interactive tools, and assessments that can be completed in schools or from home.

Schools not reached by the live tour can also participate in Smashed Online.

More information on the Smashed programme and its upcoming tour can be found on the Smashed Project website.