The international educational program SMASHED, aimed at combating alcohol consumption among minors, has been launched in Romania.

In this context, an extensive tour of performances by the independent theater group RECUL will be held in high schools, reaching over 2,000 teenagers/high school students from Bucharest and the surrounding areas.

SMASHED Live is a unique and award-winning initiative that uses theatrical experience to provide students with the knowledge and confidence to make responsible choices regarding alcohol.

During the performances, played by improvisation actors, students can explore themes such as the social and emotional causes of alcohol abuse, its impact on young lives, social influence, decision-making processes, and how they can seek help for themselves and others. An artistic performance was held during the launch event.

RECUR already has the first two performances scheduled in Bucharest, at Gheorghe Șincai National College and Virgil Madgearu Economic College. The next performances are scheduled for May and June.

The program was created by Collingwood Learning, an organization based in the UK, specialized in creating educational experiences through theater to prevent alcohol abuse. The initiative is supported by Diageo, a global leader in the alcoholic beverages industry, committed to promoting responsible alcohol consumption and combating underage drinking and driving under the influence of alcohol through extensive educational programs.

"SMASHED is part of Diageo's long-term commitment to education and social responsibility and has become a benchmark project primarily because of its amazing results.

Survey data shows that 93% of respondents confirmed a change in attitude towards the dangers of underage alcohol consumption after participating in an educational program supported by Diageo. This is excellent news as it demonstrates the extraordinary impact of this program and the fact that education remains the only way to achieve a healthy long-term attitude towards alcohol among young people.

We are confident that SMASHED will be a very useful experience for the young population in Romania, helping them make informed choices regarding alcohol," said Ștefan ZAMFIROV, Diageo Country Manager for Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Moldova, and Hungary.