“Like many students my age, I like to socialise with others, and I think that there is no need for alcoholic beverages to help us look ‘cool’ or have fun. There are other alternatives.” This is a comment by Alessio Decarlo, an ITS student in his first year of the management course.

Sedqa, the national agency against drug and alcohol abuse, has been dedicating the past few months to young people. Apart from day activities at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, another activity was held in the evening on board the Logos II as a conclusion to National Youth Day, where a group of young people performed dances, songs and drama for a large audience of young people. ITS students also participated in this event through a bar serving freshly-made alcohol-free cocktails.

The student continued: “Mocktails are very appropriate drinks. These are non-alcoholic versions of popular alcoholic cocktails, which are not often found in popular bars and clubs. We, ITS students, are promoting these drinks in various activities, in collaboration with sedqa… to promote these alternative drinks, which certainly look cool and without the necessary peer pressure to drink alcoholic beverages to be able to have fun.”

Also, this week, around 170 MCAST students were rewarded with a certificate of appreciation for their collaboration in making events for students on National Youth Day a success. As part of its programme of events targeting young people, sedqa’s Primary Prevention Team, in collaboration with the MCAST students’ council and the National Youth Information Centre, held several activities on the main campus at MCAST on National Youth Day, celebrated locally on 21 March. Live performances by student bands, a football tournament, and abseiling in collaboration with members of the Civil Protection Depart-ment were a few of the activities provided.

This collaboration between sedqa and ITS students has been a regular item on the agenda of activities by the agency’s prevention services this year in promoting healthy alternatives to alcohol abuse among young people, with non-alcoholic events held at Bay Street, on board the Logos II and at other venues. Other non-alcoholic get-togethers for young people are also being organised every second Friday of the month by sedqa in collaboration with NSTS.

Several activities are being coordinated by the agency’s Primary Prevention Team in collaboration with various organisations and entities. These reach hundreds of young people of different age groups in different environments, from schools to the community. In March alone, over 1,500 students from secondary schools participated in programmes held on-board the Logos II, focusing mostly on decision-making, alternative leisure and peer pressure.

Such networking with different organisations working in the field is the method sedqa is adopting in its approach to young people. This can also be seen from the integrated approach that sedqa and Appogg, both part of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, are taking in the provision of services to young people, with new joint services launched last month.