A new partnership has been launched in York to tackle underage drinking.
Partners, including schools, the council, shops and community groups, have teamed up to prevent alcohol-related harm to young people and improve the quality of life for residents.
The York Community Alcohol Partnership also includes Youth Justice and licensing officers.
The CAP will provide alcohol-free activities for young people. And it will support shopkeepers to help them avoid making underage sales and reduce ‘proxy’ sales where adults buy alcohol for under-18s.
It will also work with schools to “take a proactive approach to alcohol education and ensure that young people are equipped to make the right decisions about issues including alcohol and drugs and anti-social and criminal behaviour”.
It’s an initiative with an impressive track record in reducing under-age drinking and associated disorder.
Nationally, CAP evaluations for the period 2016-2020 show:
- 61% average reductions in weekly drinking among 13-16 year olds
- 99% of retailers passed Challenge 25 compliance test for alcohol sales
- 86% of retailers did not sell alcohol when they suspected it was a ‘proxy’ sale
- 50% reduction in young people hanging around shops and asking adults to buy alcohol for them
- 42% reduction in youth alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.
Derek Lewis, chair of Community Alcohol Partnerships, said: “I am delighted to see the launch of a CAP in York.
“Underage drinking is associated with school and educational problems, unprotected sex, drug-taking, violence and drinking problems in later life.
“In just over a decade CAP has set up more than 200 partnerships around the UK and our evaluations show they are having a significant impact on reducing children’s alcohol consumption, improving their health and wellbeing and enhancing the communities where they live.”