Year 12 students in the Mackay, Moranbah and Whitsunday areas are being urged to party responsibly, especially with "Schoolies" just around the corner.

Queensland Government departments of Health, Police, Communities and Transport have partnered together with CQ University and the Whitsunday Schoolies Committee to promote safety messages to senior school students. Mackay Rotary has also provided financial support...

Students at the Conservatorium of Music have created and produced a drama presentation - titled Choices - around key safety messages about partying responsibly, to encourages students to look after each other while partying, especially during Schoolies celebrations.

Queensland Health's Mackay Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service Prevention Officer Christine Low said Choices reinforced the drug and alcohol education students received during their school years, including basic first aid information and strategies to maintain personal safety.

"Choices reminds students of the effects of alcohol and how to drink responsibly, as well as providing information about the penalties for being underage on licensed premises and police procedures for intervening at noisy parties," Ms Low said.

"There is also reference to the legislation introduced last year regarding the supply of alcohol to minors within Choices."

The legislation states that adults must provide responsible supervision to minors when supplying alcohol for consumption in private places such as parties or Schoolies.

"Penalties are high for everyone. When an adult is caught providing alcohol to your underage child for consumption in an unsupervised environment, they will face penalties of up to $6000," she said.

"Police now also have greater powers to seize alcohol that has the potential to cause harm to minors or that is being recklessly provided to minors...

"Police can now also confiscate alcohol in cars and public places and dispose of alcohol they reasonably suspect is destined for unsupervised consumption by minors."

Choices will be performed for year 12 students at most schools in the region, including Moranbah, Dysart, Mirani, Proserpine and Bowen, from today until 30 October 2009.

"This is the eleventh consecutive year that the Conservatorium of Music has worked on a pre-Schoolies Week intervention. In previous years, the feedback from students and teachers has been extremely positive, and last year's Schoolies celebration in Airlie Beach was a highly successful event," Ms Low said.

Students who intend to participate in the Airlie Beach Schoolies Celebrations are encouraged to take some form of student identification with them, respect accommodation facilities, and register for Schoolies drug and alcohol-free activities.