another on topic

The Independent (London)
NEWS; Pg. 5
REVIVED TEMPERANCE LEAGUE AIMS TO RECRUIT IN SCHOOL

Ian Burrell Natalia Gazur


THE WAGONS of the temperance movement are on the roll again, more
than a century after hundreds of thousands of people across Britain
queued to sign pledges of abstinence from alcohol.

The revived British National Temperance League has embarked on a new
drive to turn away the young from the dubious delights of alcopops
and other intoxicants.

The league said at the weekend that it had written to every school in
Britain with details of how to fight the lure of liquor and warn
children of the potential dangers of drinking. Barbara Briggs, the
league's administration director, said 80 young people had recently
signed up to an organisation that was "quite literally dying off" two
years ago. Ms Briggs said: "A lot of our new members are under 30 and
some are under 20. We have young people with families and some
students who have adopted a drug-free lifestyle."

In the past two months more than 25,000 copies of its education pack
"Thinking About Drinking" have been sent to schools. The campaigning
organisation held a conference over the weekend at Aston University
in Birmingham to promote its aims. The teetotallers have even
designed mobile non-alcoholic bars, which they rent out for school
discos to promote the pleasures of booze-free drinking.

A Preston weaver, Joseph Liversey, set up the temperance movement in
1832, when gin palaces and beer houses flourished in the slums of
British towns and cities. By the end of the century up to one-tenth
of the total population was estimated to abstain from alcohol. New
members of the league are no longer required to sign a formal pledge
but are still expected to make a commitment to abstinence. Ms Briggs
said: "We just ask anybody who agrees to be a member to adopt a
drug-free lifestyle, which includes alcohol and tobacco."

One of the members, Natalia Gazur, aged 16, joined the temperance
movement after doing work experience at the league's Sheffield
offices. Natalia, who is of Polish descent, said: "I have not come
from a temperance background. I am a Roman Catholic and am used to
everyone having a drink, especially at Christmas.

"I've got a few friends who go out drinking a lot, and one in
particular drinks to excess. I've talked to him and he's calmed down
a lot because of the information I have given him."

Natalia, supported by her parents, said: "I don't think I will drink.
I'm not really bothered about it. When I do go out with my friends I
will stick to mineral water and Diet Coca-Cola."

Copyright 2001 Newspaper Publishing PLC
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