The Mile End Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) in Tower Hamlets has won a national award for its work tackling underage drinking.

Vincent Fajilagmago, Licensing Officer Tower Hamlets Council, received the Award for Innovation from national CAP chair Derek Lewis at the Westminster launch of the CAP 2017 Impact Report on October 10.

Derek Lewis said: “One of the biggest challenges for Mile End CAP was providing young people in the area with an alternative to hanging about on the streets and engaging in anti-social behaviour. The CAP put in place a number of measures including checks on retailers to make sure they weren’t selling alcohol to underage youngsters; gathering evidence of anti-social behaviour and working with local schools and youth centres to increase alcohol awareness and organise youth activities. Alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour by young people has dropped by 62% and residents are full of praise for CAP’s work. Vincent has been the driving force behind the CAP’s success in Mile End.”

CAP’s 2017 impact report shows how local CAPs are empowering communities by bringing together retailers, local authorities, police, schools, neighbourhood groups and health providers, working together to tackle underage drinking and improve the quality of life for residents. CAP has now announced plans to double the number of CAPs around the country and extend its remit to provide continued support as children become young adults.

Derek Lewis added: “CAPs offer an evidence-based and locally tailored response to underage alcohol problems. Our targeted approach means that we bring effective national programmes to areas with greatest harms. It is clear from the compelling body of evidence presented in this report that CAPs are making a tangible positive difference to young people, residents and local communities.” 

MP Fiona Bruce, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm, said: “It is absolutely vital that we protect young people from the devastating effects of alcohol harm. British children are more likely to binge drink or get drunk than children in most other European countries.  This brings serious risks to their health and development and impacts on a wide range of issues, from underperformance at school and later exclusion from the job market, to mental ill health, sexual exploitation, homelessness and imprisonment. I very much welcome CAP’s joined-up, partnership approach to addressing this issue.” 

Ends

For media information please contact: Julia Shipston, Communications Manager at CAP: tel: 0771 3163003.

Notes for Editors

• Photograph of Derek Lewis and Vincent Fajilagmago attached.
• In 2014, 38% of 11-15 year olds in England had drunk alcohol. This continued the downward trend since 2003, when 61% of pupils had drunk alcohol.1 However 4% said they drank alcohol at least once a week and a further 5% said they drank once a fortnight.2
• Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) schemes are set up to tackle underage drinking and the resulting harm to local communities. All schemes are managed and delivered locally via partnerships between local authorities, police, retailers, schools and neighbourhood groups and health providers, offering a flexible model tailored to fit the needs of each community. All schemes incorporate a mixture of education, enforcement, community engagement and the provision of diversionary activities for young people.
• CAP is a community interest company (CIC), funded by major retailers who share its concerns about underage drinking. Current funders include: Aldi, ASDA, ACS, Brown Forman, Co-op, Diageo, Heineken, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, Molson Coors, One Stop, Sainsbury’s, SHS Drinks, Tesco and Waitrose. We are also grateful to the Welsh Government which provided £15,000 towards the establishment of three new CAPs in Wales.
• The first CAP was set up in St Neots in 2007. Between 2014 and 2016 the number of CAPs more than doubled and there are now 150 across the UK.

1 Statistics on Alcohol, Health and Social Care Information Centre, published 30 June 2016.

2 Data intelligence summary: Alcohol consumption and harm among under 18 year olds, Public Health England, published July 2016.