Sex advice for young holidaymakers

Tourists are being offered advice before they leave

Young Welsh holidaymakers flying to the continent for their summer holidays are to be given safe sex advice on their way through Cardiff airport.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of sexually transmitted diseases and the dangers of date rape in foreign destinations.

Travellers will be offered sex advice

Eighteen to 30-year-olds flying from Cardiff International Airport near Cardiff, will be handed leaflets and even condoms in an attempt to highlight the dangers of unprotected sex.

The moves follows the arrest in Greece of 11 Britons in the last week on drink and drugs charges.

Six British women also alleged that they were raped in Faliraki -on the Greek island of Rhodes some because of date rape drugs.

There is growing concern about the behaviour of young Britons abroad and the Greek authorities have made it clear they will not accept their antics.

The initiative at Cardiff will continue throughout July and August, targeting mostly early morning and late evening flights.

It is being led by health advisors from Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust who fear the holiday atmosphere can often mean contraception is forgotten.

We want to highlight that they can have fun without putting themselves at danger

Janine Roderick

They are also concerned about a reported rise in so called date rape where victims' drinks are spiked.

Doctors and nurses from the GUM (genito-urinary clinic) in Cardiff will be on hand at the airport until the end of August to talk to young people and warn them of potential dangers.

Sexual health adviser Janine Roderick said: "We are working with the airport managers to target flights that we know will attract a lot of young people going abroad for singles holidays.

"We want to highlight that they can have fun without putting themselves at danger.

"One of the things we will be offering advice about is a reported rise in date rapes after drinks are spiked.

"It's about making people aware so they can be more alert to avoiding problems."

If successful there are plans to make the initiative an annual event.