AN anti-alcohol and binge drinking campaign, which started with older teenagers in schools, is now being targeted on 12 to 14-year-olds.

A DVD package called 'Too Wasted', launched at Carterton Community College, is being rolled out to Year 7, 8, and 9 students in all West Oxfordshire secondary schools.

It follows a similar scheme, 'Wasted Nights', which came out in 2006, and won a highly commended award at the Home Office National Responsible Drinks Retailing Awards. Combined with a policing priority campaign to combat underage drinking in West Oxfordshire, latest crime statistics indicate a fall in assaults.

Witney MP and Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, who was at the 'Too Wasted' launch, said: "I am so pleased to be able to launch the Safer Communities Partnership's DVD package.

"It is important that we combat underage drinking and the anti-social behaviour that it fuels. I am confident that this new initiative will significantly help our community tackle this problem."

The latest DVD, which features Year 10 students at Carterton, was produced by the partnership linking local councils, police, probation service, and other agencies.

It highlights the consequences of underage drinking to Year 7, 8, and 9 pupils. Their lesson begins by watching the short film, then dividing into groups for scenario-based exercises.

PC Simon Collins, West Oxfordshire schools officer, said: "We carried out a pilot of 'Too Wasted' at Carterton Community College, and all of the students involved agreed that they were much better informed about binge drinking and anti-social behaviour after the lesson. They also liked the fact the DVD was filmed locally as we had used Year 10 media students from the school in the filming, which formed part of their GCSE qualification."

The majority of the district's Neighbourhood Action Groups have marked underage drinking and anti-social behaviour as a priority concern for local policing.

A campaign, starting last October, began with Operation Judicious, which on one night at Witney's Deer Park estate brought in a haul of lager, beer, and spirits from a group of teenagers on the streets.

Jill Dunsmore, district council cabinet member for communities, said: "Wasted Nights and Too Wasted forms part of the students' citizenship education. It will also be made available to other curriculum areas."