Individuals and organisations working to reduce alcohol harm among young people across England, Scotland and Wales were recognised today (27th June) at the annual Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) in the Houses of Parliament

Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs) are made up of partnerships between local authorities, police, schools, retailers, neighbourhood groups and health providers, working together to highlight the risks of underage drinking and improve the health and wellbeing of local children and young people.

The CAP awards recognise exceptional achievements in tackling underage drinking within CAPs during 2022/23 and are open to individuals and organisations.

Winners of the awards include: 

• • - Cardiff’s Safety Bus initiative which provides support on Cardiff’s busiest nights to lone, vulnerable members of the public. Since Sept 2023, the bus has supported over 600 people;
  • - PC’s Anna Morrison and Lauren Mitchell, from Edinburgh Constabulary for their work in engaging young people in their local areas and educating them about alcohol harm and;
  • - Burnley CAP which has reduced anti-social behaviour in the local community by engaging with young people and offering them advice on local activities which keep the off the streets.  
   

There are currently over 250 CAPs in the UK. They bring together local partners with a shared interest in preventing underage drinking and encouraging responsible drinking among young adults. Partners can include: retailers, local authorities, police, schools, neighbourhood groups and health providers, working together to protect young people from alcohol harm.

CAP’s annual report, launched at the event, shows how this innovative partnership approach has led to significant reductions to children’s and young people’s drinking, anti-social behaviour and underage sales in areas where it has created local partnerships:

 Nationally, CAP evaluations show:

• 64% reduction in weekly drinking for 13-16 year olds;
• After CAP training, 98% of retailers passed a Challenge 25 compliance test – from an average baseline of 52%;
• 42% reduction in anti-social behaviour;
• 40% reduction in residents reporting children and young people drinking in public places to be a very big or fairly big problem.

Derek Lewis, Chair of CAP comments: ““CAP has continued to grow its impact in reducing alcohol harm among young people during 2022 and into 2023, including the launch of 20 new CAPs last year. It is particularly pleasing to see significant growth in the number CAPs in Scotland, where the need in many places is greater than elsewhere and where our Scottish funders have provided additional support.”

"Our latest report provides hard evidence of the large positive impact that CAPs consistently produce. This data leaves no room for doubt that CAPs are among the most powerful agents in the UK for reducing alcohol harm and for equipping young people with attitudes to alcohol that will serve them and their families well throughout their lives. These results illustrate the power of partnership and the ability of CAP’s approach to break down the barriers of silo working within communities."

You can download the Annual Report here: https://www.communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk/images/CAP_Annual_Review_2022-23_-_digitalFINAL.pdf

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Note to Editors:

The CAP Annual Awards took place in the Terrace Pavillon in the Houses of Commons on Tuesday 27 June 2023

For media information, contact: sam@communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk tel: 07977 144719

For more information about Community Alcohol Partnerships visit: www.communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk