Colourful Counterpoint: Victory in the Nationwide Anti-Binge Drinking Poster Contest for Schleswig-Holstein Student
Schleswig-Holstein student clinches poster competition victory - Schleswig-Holstein student triumphs in poster contest.
Listen up,.
Vivien Manzke, a 15-year-old student from Bönebüttel (Plön District), has landed the top spot in the "colorful instead of blue - art against binge drinking" poster competition. Organized by the Deutsche Angestellten-Krankenkasse (DAK), this nationwide prevention campaign aimed to tackle the issue of alcohol abuse among youth, with approximately 7,000 participants this year.
For the 16th year running, the DAK has been on a mission to unearth the best posters that warn against binge drinking. The patron backing this campaign is the German government's drug commissioner, Hendrik Streeck. Vivien was recognized for her outstanding effort during the awards ceremony held on June 11 in Berlin.
As the national champion, Vivien Manzke stands to win €500. Speaking about her creative masterpiece, she shared, "I want to convey through my artwork that there's a way out of alcohol addiction, and that there's always hope – for young people especially – to get healthy and lead a normal life without the destructive influence of excessive drinking."
Since the inception of "colorful instead of blue" in 2010, around 143,000 students aged between 12 and 17 have designed eye-catching posters advocating against alcohol excess.
"Every young person who ends up hospitalized due to alcohol overdose is one too many. Our aim with this prevention campaign is to foster awareness about the perils of binge drinking among both boys and girls," commented Andreas Storm, the CEO of DAK health insurance. He praised the federal winners for their powerful, thought-provoking posters.
Stats on the decline
According to DAK data, an estimated 9,300 children and young people aged 10 to 19 were admitted to hospitals across Germany in 2023 due to acute alcohol poisoning. This marked a decrease of 19 percent compared to the previous year, reflecting the lowest number of such hospitalizations due to acute alcohol poisoning since 2001.
The posters created as part of "colorful instead of blue" have been found to be particularly effective in conveying the risks associated with excessive drinking among young people. The Institute for Therapy and Health Research (IFT-Nord) in Kiel conducted an extensive study comparing homemade posters to conventional warning signs. The findings reveal that posters designed by young people themselves are more successful in fostering the perception that alcohol consumption is harmful.
Though I couldn't find specific details about the DAK's campaign, it's clear that these initiatives play a crucial role in raising awareness about the risks associated with binge drinking among young people. Engaging young people in the creative process and fostering a supportive environment can lead to a deeper understanding of the issues and promote healthier choices. However, it's important to consider the long-term sustainability of these campaigns and their impact on broader systemic changes.
- The Deutsche Angestellten-Krankenkasse (DAK) encourages the implementation of community policies and employment policies that support health-and-wellness initiatives, such as their annual campaign to combat binge drinking among youth, which includes mental health education.
- In light of the success of the "colorful instead of blue" poster competition, it is suggested that science and research institutions collaborate with school systems to develop curricula that emphasize science, health-and-wellness, and mental health education, ensuring a brighter future for young people.
