Far more important, the researchers found, was planning when to drink cheap alcohol. Schoolies in Bali. Academics have found that no amount of safe-alcohol messaging will deter teenagers from binge drinking. Credit:Nic Walker "We actually organised a meeting that went for five hours deciding what alcohol we were going to spend our money on," wrote one female from Adelaide. "By the time you're drunk enough on the nice drinks you can just go to goon and it just goes down really well anyway," wrote another. Respondents to the survey by Flinders University's School of Nursing and Midwifery said that they expected to get drunk most nights.

A 2010 study from Professor Hutton found that 24 per cent of schoolies at Victor Harbor in South Australia presented to on-site care with alcohol related issues, while 50 per cent of those who did seek help for alcohol-related issues were later transported to hospital. Sunshine Coast girls dancing at the Skypool Hotel in Legian. Respondents to the survey by Flinders University said that they expected to get drunk most nights. Credit:Nic Walker When they did get into trouble the most likely place revellers would turn to was their friends, the study found. "Targeted messages of 'take care of your mate' or 'look after your friends' would have far more relevance to schoolies during this time of celebration," wrote Associate Professor of Nursing, Alison Hutton. Police officers watch over the schoolies week celebrations in Surfers Paradise. The study found that revellers who did get into trouble would be most likely to turn to their friends for help. Credit:Sergio Dionisio

Andy Gourley, the founder of schoolies support group Red Frogs, said that the findings matched many of his own experiences. The volunteer group has spent the past few weeks giving talks at more than 390 high schools across the country. Illustration: Matt Golding "Alcohol is the epicentre for every major incident at schoolies but you can't just tell them not to drink, they won't listen to that." "We've been telling them how to avoid things that can go wrong, how not to turn your parents into grandparents, how not to get evicted from your hotel room."

He said that attitudes towards drinking with friends have changed over the past decade. "Fifteen years ago you would have let Jonno sleep it off on the beach and not worry about it, now you're making sure they get home." He added that as the image of healthy living had become more "cool," health-conscious schoolies were far more common. "The healthy juice bars and proteins and shakes and all that. That has been driven by young people and teenagers. They are making better choices." But he added that the pressures around drinking were ever-present and that schoolies should take advantage of friends who don't feel like having too many drinks.

"To have a designated sober bloke is gold, because he's the one that is going to get you home at the end of the night." NSW and Victorian students begin their schoolies celebrations on November 28.