Schools and shops join police in new initiative to tackle underage drinking in York

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.”