THEY might be too young to buy alcohol but that has not stopped about 22,000 graduates from packing their bags for Schoolies on the Gold Coast.
While alcohol and drug-free parties are organised throughout the event, police are bracing for badly behaved youths.
A total of 71 school leavers were arrested during schoolies last year, 37 more than in 2015.
The number was not as high as in 2014 when 131 graduates were arrested.
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Drug and serious crime group’s Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker said police would be at Schoolies and warned youths to not be tempted by drugs.
“We have one message for schoolies and that is ‘think before you act’,” he said.
“Don’t ruin your future life by one stupid act of trying to obtain an illicit substance.
“There is no safe illicit drug out there.”
Superintendent Wacker’s advice has come after $5 million of cannabis and other drugs were seized in searches across Queensland this week.
He said police believed the drugs were destined for schoolies and other end-of-school year events.
Superintendent Wacker’s advice follows visits by police to high schools warning students to obey the law.
Senior Constable Sharyn McAnulty, who is based at Cleveland District and Victoria Point high schools, said police were aware of the realities faced by young people as they headed away from home.
She wanted school leavers to follow one simple message – look after your mates.
While Senior Constable McAnulty said she believed fewer students from Redlands were going to Schoolies, she said the advice was still important for teens holidaying with friends.
“We make them aware that by day four or five they may be feeling a little bit low (and) getting on each other’s nerves,” she said.
“A lot of them are away from home for the first time in their life...they get really tired and agitated with each other.”
Schoolies Advisory Group chairman Mark Reaburn said about 40,000 of 50,000 graduating Queensland teenagers had been told to stay safe and watch their mates in talks delivered in the lead-up to schoolies from tomorrow, Saturday, November 18.
