Leeton Shire mayor Joe Burns opened the session and welcomed speakers; and licensing officer Senior Constable Narelle Cashmere, Leeton ambulance branch manager Chris Bailey, library services manager Lyn Middleton, drug and alcohol worker Michael Cowdroy-Ling and Leeton High School counsellor Alan Draper.

Sen Con Cashmere reminded guests the supply of alcohol to youth was illegal and discussed ways parents could deal with underage drinking and teenage parties.

Mrs Middleton spoke on the resources available on the issue of youth and alcohol at the library, while Mr Cowdroy-Ling and Mr Draper discussed the ways in which families were affected by and could affect youth drinking habits, among other issues.

Mr Bailey discussed the harm drinking could do to young bodies as well as the types of alcohol-related incidences ambulance staff dealt with.

He said the increase in underage consumption of alcohol had placed emergency services personnel in direct danger.

“We can’t travel alone any more – we have to go in pairs because our security has become compromised,” Mr Bailey said.

“There have been occasions where we have required the protection of the police so that we can do our job.”

Councillor Burns said damage caused by youth under the influence of alcohol was an expensive problem as well as concerning.

“Vandalism costs the council between $20,000 and $30,000 each year,” he said.

The information session was held as part of a research project, which aimed to minimise alcohol-related harm in rural communities.

Leeton was selected as a study base for the project, one of 14 experimental towns selected on population size, socio-economic factors and location for direct intervention to help reduce alcohol-related problems.

PANEL speakers (from left) library services manager Lyn Middleton, licensing officer Senior Constable Narelle Cashmere, Leeton High School counsellor Alan Draper, Leeton ambulance branch manager Chris Bailey and drug and alcohol worker Michael Cowdroy-Ling gave presentations at the Leeton library.