Tauranga youth are being targeted by police after new statistics reveal the Bay of Plenty has one of the highest rates of youth drink driving figures in New Zealand.
An anti drink-driving expo will be held next month for Tauranga schools, run by police.
The expo comes hot on the heels of new statistics showing 48 per cent of drink drivers in the Western Bay of Plenty are aged between 15 and 24.

This trend now holds for two years running, despite this age group making up only 16 per cent of the driving population.
"In the media every day we see youngsters take risks in vehicles, often with heart-breaking results. I hope this expo will drive home to these young people the responsibilities they take on when they operate a vehicle and the reality of the outcomes if something goes wrong,” says Sergeant Dan Roser of the Traffic Alcohol Group.
'If the expo makes even one teenager think twice before drinking and getting behind a wheel, it will be worth the effort that has gone into organising it," says Dan.
The expo includes Tamati Paul, who is living with disabilities he received in a head-on crash with a drunk driver and Ryan – who is living with the consequences of his actions as a drink driver.
The aim is not to shock but to promote informative, honest discussion of the issues.
Workbooks will be issued to students to ensure the learning experience is interactive one and there will be spot prizes and giveaways.
The programme begins on Tuesday, August 18 and runs until Friday, August 21 at the Classic Flyers Air Museum on Jean Batten Drive, Mount Manganui. All eight secondary schools in the area have been invited free of charge. So far, six schools have taken up the invite, including Otumoetai College, Mount Manganui College, Tauranga boys, Tauranga Girls, Aquinas College and Katikati College.
Find out more from Wendy Nicholls, phone 07 5774430.