'Tis the season to celebrate with your family and friends - and boy do we all deserve a celebration after the year we have had.
Christmas and New Year's is just around the corner with school and work commitments wrapping up, so Macarthur charity, Youth Solutions, wants to help young people to celebrate safely.
The drug and alcohol harm prevention service will use its social media to share the best safer celebrating tips, turning the clock back for a Throwback Campaign.
Youth Solutions chief executive Geraldine Dean said the campaign would look at the best messages from the Safer Celebrations campaigns over the past decade.
"The short of it is that we want our young people to have a good time, safely connecting with their friends and family after a trying year," she said.
"What we are doing, and what we have done in partnership with our amazing friends at Campbelltown Catholic Club each summer for more than 10 years, is providing young people with some really practical things they can do to keep themselves and their mates safe while they are celebrating or drinking alcohol."
Youth Solutions Safer Celebrations project leaders Amanda Dillon and Emily Deans said they were excited to roll out this summer's Throwback Campaign.
"We've both been involved with the Safer Celebrations project for a few years now and I think it's fair to say that we really enjoy being able to help our young people celebrate safely each summer," Mrs Dillon said.
"It just aligns well with what we do and what we are about; helping our young people to be healthy, safe and connected."
Dr Deans said it was well known that the December holiday period was a time where people often drink more alcohol while catching up with family and friends.
"It's important to remember that alcohol and other drugs are never completely safe," she said.
"But there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of harm and to increase your safety while celebrating - so that's what we're hoping to share with this Throwback Campaign."
The Youth Solutions youth volunteers and team have collated a few of their top celebrating tips (and their benefits!) to share:
- Remember to keep it COVID-safe. Keep your catch-ups to close friends and family and remember to maintain physical distancing, hand washing and hygiene practices. Check out the NSW Government page for all the tips and updates: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.
- Reduce your alcohol intake by sipping mocktails or non-alcoholic beverages in between (or instead of) alcoholic drinks. It's kinder to your head, liver and your wallet!
- Make sure you and your friends have a safe way home; that way everyone is safe and ready to catch up again next weekend.
- Stick with your friends when you are out. Not only does it keep you safer, but it saves you missing out on making fun memories with your friends.
- Know what to do if an emergency happens - call Triple 000. Nothing is as important as your life or your friends' lives.
- Drinking alcohol? Skip the driving. No one wants to lose their licence, or worse. Bonus tip: Plan ahead so you don't get stranded.
- Under 18? Children and young people are most at risk from the harms of alcohol. So, skip the alcohol and take care of your brain and your future.
Keep an eye on Youth Solutions' Facebook and Instagram pages for more safer celebrating tips this summer or visit: youthsolutions.com.au.
