Bottletop - Top Info for U about Alcohol
Bottletop.info is an alcohol awareness website with a big difference - by Ruben Robinson Youth Times Media Trainee
Like InSITE, Bottletop is a website made by and for young people. It houses multimedia messages in a unique, funky web design. In early 2008, drama company ‘The Playhouse’, along with our very own InSITE web designer Chris, came to the three colleges of Hereford to recruit young people for the Bottletop project. Students shared stories and explored the angles on alcohol use and misuse amongst young people in Hereford and nationally. Why is there a problem with young people and alcohol? Is there anything we can do to help? What was certain was that existing websites on alcohol use appeared negative, preachy and totally un-engaging with reams of text. Okay, there’s information there on the effects of that time you drank somewhat more than a glass of beer at dinner time. But what about all the times you’ve enjoyed a bit of alcohol responsibly? Young people won’t change their alcohol habits just because they’ve been subjected to a page of writing with a few stats.
Ruben Robinson speaking at the Bottletop launch on 28th November
Why is there a problem with young people and alcohol? Is there anything we can do to help?
The Bottletop participants wanted to produce a website that was fun and entertaining as well as hard-hitting and helpful.
Bottletop features film, animations, audio bites and interactive cartoons which all convey a message whether it is explicit or more subtle. As well as the helpful tips within some of the content, there’s also lots of useful links on the site for those who may be concerned about their own or a friends alcohol use.
The launch of the site took place at the Hereford College of Technology at the end of November 2008. The object of the launch was to gain the support of local organisations and to showcase all the hard work of the students. There were some live drama performances and some of the participants made speeches. Complementary nibbles for all. For the Bottletop team, complementary hoodies. It was all jolly nice! (Keep an eye out for teenagers donning the Bottletop logo.)
Why not swing by and check it out at www.bottletop.info ?
