Alcohol in primary school? Not in Bermuda you tell yourself. The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) is being proactive on the topic just the same.

CADA chairman, Anthony Santucci said an awareness programme has begun in primary schools after a survey revealed that most teenagers have had their first alcoholic drink by the time they are aged 14.

That survey, conducted in 2003, revealed that 93 percent of M2-S4 students questioned had drunk alcohol by the age of 14, with a quarter of them admitting access to alcoholic drinks was very easy.

“CADA conducts the Lions Quest Life Skills programme in Bermuda’s schools and after-school programmes,” said Mr. Santucci. “It is a comprehensive, positive youth development and prevention programme designed to cultivate capable and healthy young people of strong character through life skills, character education and drug and alcohol prevention.”

Training has just been completed for students in after-school programmes at Victor Scott Primary and Paget Primary. Mr. Santucci said a CADA counsellor works with a group of up to 12 children. The children must all be of a similar age to keep interest high. The training takes place in eight, one-hour sessions.

The Lions Quest Life Skills programme is a partnership between the Department of Education and the Lions Club. Schoolteachers, counsellors and other prevention specialists have been trained to carry out this program.

“It is among the most highly acclaimed positive prevention programmes in the world. For several years CADA has been supplementing and assisting the Department of Education and the Lions Club by going into the schools and conducting Lions Quest,” said Mr. Santucci. “Last year, CADA expanded the training to some of the after school programmes.”