“Volle Kontrolle statt volles Glas” is the simple idea behind klar bleiben, a free alcohol prevention project for school classes from grade 9 onwards. It invites young people to take alcohol seriously as a topic, not as a moral lecture, but as something to reflect on together through a structured class-based self experiment.

The format is straightforward: the class commits to six weeks of “staying clear” (“klar bleiben”). That can mean everyone avoids alcohol completely, or students set individual rules that also include avoiding particularly risky drinking patterns such as binge drinking (“Rauschtrinken”). The goal is to make low risk choices, or abstinence, feel normal in the group, not weird or isolating.

It is designed to be easy for schools to run. Teachers, school social workers, or prevention specialists can lead it, using online tools or printed materials. The class signs a class agreement, students give weekly feedback, and the project lead submits a short online confirmation each week that the class has “stayed clear” and remains in the competition. Participation is free, the timing of the six week period is flexible, and prizes are raffled among successful classes, including a main prize of 1,000 euros for the class fund.

The project has been running nationwide since the 2017 to 2018 school year. More than 2,400 classes and around 62,000 young people have taken part, and more than 650 prizes have been awarded. The flyer also notes that klar bleiben is evaluated, has demonstrated positive effects on how young people deal with alcohol, and is included on the recommendation list of the “Grüne Liste Prävention.”

Find more from https://www.klar-bleiben.de/ (Germany, February 2026)