Lessons in nightclubbing: schools to run excursions to licensed venues

Students will be taken on school excursions to nightclubs under a radical state government program aimed at stopping teenagers from getting into fights, becoming drunk or having a drink spiked.

Students will be taken on school excursions to nightclubs under a radical state government program aimed at stopping teenagers from getting into fights, becoming drunk or having a drink spiked.

The move follows students in the regional town of Albury being invited into licensed venues to be taught how to “behave responsibly” as part of a local program introduced to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal the government has signed off on the program being rolled out across the state.

Under the “pause play” program, Year 11 students will be taught “how to behave in licensed venues”.

The program will include a chaperoned visit to a local licensed venue where they will be given practical tips on “how to avoid a confrontation”, “how to avoid intoxication”, “the dangers of drink spiking” and “the dangers of drug use”.

The visit will occur outside the venues’ usual operating hours, with mocktails instead of cocktails offered.

Students will be taken on school excursions to nightclubs under a radical state government program.

Students will also be taught about the “barred from one, barred from all” rule where patrons who act aggressively in venues are banned from entry for between three months and life from all participating venues and businesses, depending on the severity of the act.

The program also includes discussion about “real-life scenarios” on what can go wrong and how to react.

Liquor accords are partnerships among licensed venues, community members, businesses, councils, police and government departments that work together to develop solutions to address alcohol-related issues, anti-social behaviour and violence.

It will be up to each school if they want to participate in the program.

Beer Deluxe Albury licensee Mitch Harris said in a YouTube video about the program that the scheme was designed to educate the next cohort of school graduates about “life in the real world”.

Students will be taught about the dangers of drink spiking and drug use.

“The program will focus on the issues young people face related to alcohol, drugs, behaviour and consent, giving them the tools that they need in order to pause, make the choices that they need to be safe in our venues, then play,” Mr Harris said.

More than 450 teenagers have participated in the Albury program with Beer DeLuxe also putting on a DJ as part of the student visit.

Hospitality & Racing NSW director of industry and community engagement Melanie Brown said: “Heading out to socialise at a pub or club was often a rite of passage for many teenagers when they turned 18.

“But the unknown can also be a bit intimidating, which is why Pause Play is so helpful in showing teenagers what to expect and how to stay safe.

“It equips young people with the things they need to know so they can stay safe, feel comfortable and have a great time. This includes how to enter a licensed venue, interact with other patrons and get home safely. We want young people to go out and have a great time but also be aware of their ­surroundings.”

Originally published as Lessons in nightclubbing: schools to run excursions to licensed venues