The “Message in a bottle” campaign was launched by cork hurlers Niall McCarthy and Leigh Desmond in “The Usual Place” Bar in Youghal on the 15th August 2008 @ 8:00pm. A night of fun was promised with a selection of non-alcoholic refreshments being served and a number of up and coming local young bands performing. The event, which had lots of surprises in store, showed that it is possible to have a great night without drugs or alcohol.

The aim of the campaign is to enable pub-goers, aged between 18 and 23, to be more informed about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and also to highlight the support that is available for the young people of Youghal through local drug and alcohol services.

One element of the campaign includes key messages about the harmful effects of both illegal and legal drugs (including alcohol) being placed on five different ‘beer mats’. Facts on the risks associated with cannabis, ecstasy, alcohol, heroin and cocaine are displayed on 5 individual ‘beer mats’, all of which also contain the contact details for the local drugs worker in Youghal, Gordon Kinsley. The beer mats will be used over 12 consecutive weekend nights in “The Usual Place” Bar as a means of communicating directly with young people when they are most at risk of misusing alcohol and drugs.

The “Message in a Bottle” campaign is a response to a call by 32 Publicans from Youghal to have more information on the dangers of drugs available in the pub and club environment. They made this call during a drug and alcohol awareness training session, delivered by the Health Promotion Dept last February, which aimed to increase awareness among Publicans in Youghal, of the negative consequences of alcohol and drug misuse, particularly amongst young people.

There are a number of agencies involved in putting this resource together including; Youghal Community Based Drugs Initiative, Foroige - The National Youth Development Organisation, Youghal Youth Committee, the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force, Local Publicans, The Health Promotion Department and The Health Service Executive South.