A VOMIT-COVERED child lies unconscious in an alley with an empty bottle by his feet.
The police and emergency services are nowhere to be seen – while an aggressive gang of wine-swilling yobs roam the streets nearby.
It sounds like every parent's worst nightmare, but in reality it is the scenario behind a controversial computer gam
e that is set to be played in schools throughout Scotland.
A PlayStation-style ThinknDrinkn? game is being targeted at 11 and 12-year-olds in a bid to address the growing problem of pre-teen alcohol abuse.
The object of the animated adventure is to come to the aid of a classmate who lies comatose and helpless after a bout of binge drinking.
Pre-teen players have to negotiate their way through hazard-filled streets to provide fluids and food for their ailing friend and either get them home or to hospital.
The game is made more difficult by the presence of thuggish "street gangs" – who are portrayed as surly baseball-cap-wearing youths clutching what appear to be bottles of super-strength tonic wine.
Critics say the game is "irresponsible" and could prove traumatic for youngsters while those behind the venture insist it needs to be hard-hitting to get its message across.
The computer simulation – which was designed by school pupils – is being pioneered in classrooms across Renfrewshire.
It will then be added to Glow, the national schools intranet, to be used in schools throughout Scotland and to be downloaded on mobile phones.
In the game the worsening condition of the inebriated friend is represented by a disembodied face in the corner of the screen.
The longer he is left without help the greener his face becomes, before eventually he becomes violently sick with vomit dripping down the screen. If help still doesn't arrive the youngster then lapses into unconsciousness.
Scottish Conservative schools spokeswoman Liz Smith expressed concerns about the age of youngsters being targeted.
The former secondary teacher said: "The power to shock can sometimes be very effective, but I think youngsters of 11 and 12 are too young to fully understand this issue.
"For youngsters to fully comprehend issues like underage drinking they need to be a little bit older and have a bit of the adult responsibility that goes with it.
"They are too young to be expected to cope with that kind of scenario."
Nick Seaton, of pressure group the Campaign for Real Education, described the concept behind the game as "downright bizarre".
He said: "It is quite irresponsible to confront children of just 11 or 12 with the idea of a friend lapsing into unconsciousness because they have had so much to drink."
The game was funded by Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership in a bid to tackle underage drinking.
First-year pupils from Paisley Grammar School and St Andrew's Academy designed the game which was produced with help from computer experts at the University of the West of Scotland, formerly Paisley University.
Paisley Grammar teacher Andrew Dickie, who is behind the project,
shrugged off criticism and said: "In the UK in the last five years 600 children under the age of eight have been hospitalised because of alcohol. That shows it is never too early to start educating kids of the dangers of drinking.
The full article contains 554 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
