DJ shows there is another way besides drinking

TOP Cat DJ Carey is renowned for his goal and point-scoring sprees. But the Kilkenny hurler has never been on a drinking spree in his life.

"I've never touched a drink in my life. I don't know what I'm missing but at the same time I don't know how I could enjoy life more," he said last night as he launched Another Way a Veritas-produced video exploring attitudes and alternatives to underage drinking, which also shows the long-term consequences of binge drinking for young people's health.

The hurling maestro urged young people to put off drinking until they were at least 18 years old. Then and only then would they know just how damaging alcohol could be.

"We need to take a stand," he said. "Underage drinking is wrong, it is illegal. People who drink underage should consider their families and their parents who have given up so much to give them what they have," he said.

"I remember last year's All-Ireland final celebrations. I was coming home and what really struck me was seeing eight or nine young girls who were no older than 13 lying on the street totally drunk, totally taken away with the whole thing of Kilkenny winning an All-Ireland final.

"Those girls hopefully got home safely. But there was a huge chance that they didn't."

Another Way, which was sponsored jointly by the Radharc Trust and the John Jefferson Smurfit Foundation, is available from Veritas bookstores nation-wide and is being promoted in schools, clubs, societies and all groups which involve young people.

The video features a character, Richie, who recalls his inability to cope with low self-esteem from an early age. He subsequently turned to drink and drugs and speaks about his road to recovery. Others featured include teenagers and well-known personalities who give alternatives to alcohol.