Byron Bay remains one of the alcohol hotspots in the state, with the Byron Liquor Accord hearing last night that it beats Kings Cross for the number of alcohol-related violent crimes.
But the town is hoping to shake that image, beginning this weekend with a range of activities hosted by Byron Youth Service (BYS) to address the problem of youth binge drinking.
Cringe the Binge Weekend of Action will kick off with a launch by the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Steve Hambleton, on Saturday morning.
BYS director Di Mahoney said the program aims to generate widespread community support to reverse the harmful culture of youth binge drinking. ‘It’s an opportunity for everyone concerned about youth binge drinking to show their support for a grassroots campaign to help our young people.’
Cringe the Binge encourages people to consider their own drinking habits, attend the weekend special events, and donate what they would normally spend on alcohol. All funds raised will be used to employ youth workers and develop community resources and strategies to drive community action to target the destructive binge-drinking culture.
Activities include:
• Binge Hardcore Party, tonight, 5–10pm, Youth Activities Centre, 1 Gilmore Crescent, Byron Bay
• official launch tomorrow, 10am, by Dr Hambleton at the Youth Activities Centre
• the Rise A Movement Music Festival, tomorrow, 4–8pm, Apex Park, Byron Bay
• skate workshop, Sunday, 10am–4pm, Suffolk Park.
