MULTINATIONAL alcohol giant Diageo is more well known for trying to get people to drink than keep them away from booze.

But this week a programme sponsored by the company has arrived in schools across Oxfordshire to warn youngsters of the potential pitfalls of a heavy session.

Students at eight schools will watch a play about a group of friends who find themselves in trouble as a result of misusing alcohol.

The performance, which has been backed by Banbury MP Victoria Prentis, is part of international alcohol education and awareness programme Smashed.

Over nine weeks it will appear in 90 British schools.

Mrs Prentis said: "I have heard a lot of positive stories about the Smashed project, so I was pleased to hear that students at The Cooper School in Bicester would get to participate in the programme.

"Raising awareness of the dangers of underage drinking is really important, particularly given the pressures young people face in everyday life.

"I am sure that the initiative will capture the imagination of all those who participate and help them make the right decisions in the future.

"I look forward to hearing how the day goes."

The amount of boys and girls aged from eight to 15 who have drank alcohol dropped to its lowest level in 2015 since records began.

But figures show that young people are more likely to drink once a week as they enter their early teens.

Smashed targets 12 to 16-year-olds in an attempt to counter that.

Diageo GB head of alcohol in society Mark Baird said: "We’re delighted to be supporting Smashed in its 13th year.

"The programme’s international expansion is testament to the pivotal role it plays in tackling underage drinking on a global scale.

"The use of dramatic performance and its interaction with students provides them with a powerful lesson on the consequences of alcohol misuse on themselves and others.

"What’s more, it equips them with the knowledge and understanding needed to make informed decisions."

Today Smashed will arrive at St Birinus School in Didcot before travelling to Didcot Girls' School and Cheney School in Oxford tomorrow.

It will finish with sessions at Wallingford School and Abingdon School on Friday.

It is running in 12 countries this year and aims to reach more than 130,000 young people.

Chris Simes, from Collingwood Learning which delivers the project, said: "The powerful theatre piece and interactive workshop have been shown to significantly increase student awareness of the risks of underage drinking."