On the 24th of January ESN and Pernod Ricard renewed their partnership before an engaging panel debate "Smart prevention works: encouraging European students to adopt a responsible way of life" co-organised with Euractiv in Brussels.
The partnership agreement was made between ESN President João Pinto, and Alexandre Ricard Chairman in order to continue the Responsible Party prevention program. Successfully deployed in 32 countries, the initiative has led to the organization of more than 580 "responsible parties". During those events, students from ESN meet their friends to provide concrete advice on responsible consumption of alcohol and to offer them water. Nearly 400,000 European students have been made aware of more responsible consumption of alcoholic products since 2010.
In 2017, the Responsible Party program was the subject of an independent evaluation conducted by a researcher from the University of Leuven. The study highlighted the relevance and efficiency of the project. After collecting the testimonies of more than 30,400 program participants, 88% of them found the initiative useful and one in two considered that it helped to raise their awareness. The students surveyed also confirmed that they adapted their consumption during the evening, for instance by consuming less alcoholic beverages and drinking more water.
These results echo the ones of several studies pointing a significant decrease in harmful consumption among young people, even if the challenge of prevention remains unresolved. According to the latest results of the European school survey on alcohol and other drugs, the number of people who consumed alcohol excessively during the last 30 days was thus down from 56 to 47% over the period.
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is one of the world’s leading companies in wines and spirits, created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod. Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin and Malibu, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood wines.
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