The overall objective of the project is the reduction of alcohol consumption and related harms of adolescents and young adults in Europe. It is mainly focusing on youths between 12 and 21 years noted with risky alcohol consumption. TAKE CARE aims at keeping adolescents to the legal provisions as set in the respective national laws and at hindering alcohol consumption before the set minimum age. Furthermore the project aims at enforcing responsible alcohol use by younger generations and thus minimizing the risk of alcohol dependency and related health impacts as well as deviant behaviour.

The innovative aspect of the project lies in the multi level approach which makes it possible to address different target groups (children / adolescents, parents, important attachment figures of children and adolescents –so called key persons – and retailers) with different interventions. It does not only influence alcohol misuse amongst young people but does also influence social and cultural attitudes towards alcohol consumption.
Due to the fact that the project covers ten countries, it contributes to the formation of a common evidence base at EU level, also for those countries which do not directly participate in the project.

A multi level approach, involving youths, parents, key persons and retail employees is to be developed and implemented in certain districts. The approach uses among others methods of the positively evaluated „SeM – Secondary prevention in a multi level approach“. This approach is being adapted to the specific requirements of the participating country by a qualitative good practice analysis.
The most important used methods are:
Ø street work to gain access to the adolescents on public places,
Ø for adolescents: risk competence and psychosocial training, such as e. g. “ro.pe-training©”,
Ø for parents: home parties,
Ø for key persons: seminars following the Motivational Interviewing (e. g.. „MOVE“),
Ø for retail employees: information and training regarding the topic „Sales of alcohol in retailing“.

The evaluation report will deliver results on the desired effects on the target groups. Improvements regarding knowledge, attitude and also a change of behaviour regarding the use of alcohol is expected. The target groups will be sensitised regarding the risks of alcohol consumption at young age in general, and cases of alcohol consumption by minors and binge drinking in particular are expected to decline. A responsible use of alcohol by youths and adolescents up to 21 years is to be achieved.
A new, comprehensive and transferable concept is being developed which is adapted to the different cultural, social and legal aspects of the individual countries. The final manual ensures that the practically tested intervention measures can be transferred in the same way. The sustainability of TAKE CARE is ensured by transfer events after a successful evaluation.