IT was a lesson that is likely to stay with students at Gloucestershire College for a very long time.

It destroyed the myth for any youngsters who thought it was cool to drink and drive - and hammered home the consequences for those who do and get caught.

Thousands of pupils aged 16 and over at schools around the county are being taught the dangers of driving under the influence of drink and drugs in the run-up to Christmas.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the latest ‘Wrecked workshop’ will be held at Churchdown School, Gloucester.

Fiona James, student life manager and safeguarding for Gloucestershire College, said: “We were really happy for our students to attend the Wrecked workshop.

"We had 80 pupils aged between 16 and 19 and it expelled lots of myths about drink and drug driving so they will be safer in future.

“Some of the statistics were shocking to me and I know it really hit home that they couldn’t travel to America if they got caught drinking and driving and that the points stayed with them for 11 years as well.”

‘Wrecked workshops’ were designed by Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) with the support of Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl.

Helping young people become responsible adults and improving road safety are two of the driving forces of the commissioner’s police and crime plan.

“All the evidence tells us that young, male drivers are the most likely to be involved in drink related crashes,” said Mr. Surl.

“At this time of year the temptation to take a risk is greater than ever. We have to do something to reverse that trend by explaining the reality to this age group”.

Each ‘Wrecked’ session is an hour long and free to all schools and colleges with children aged 16 or over.

Firefighters and police officers join road safety education experts to discuss the issue and the serious impact on lives.

Key messages include the personal and emotional consequences of being involved in a crash after drinking or taking drugs, the law and enforcement, the social and long term impact that a drink drive conviction can have, as well as ‘morning after’ drink driving and how to calculate a unit of alcohol.

The school visits are part of this year’s wider Christmas drink drive campaign in Gloucestershire which will run until January 1st 2015.

Any other schools and colleges who would like to take part should contact Louise White of the GRSP on 01452 888780 or by emailing louise.white@glosfire.gov.uk