Rt. Hon Yvette Cooper MP presenting the award to D Supt. Graeme Wright, North Yorks Police 

Scarborough Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) has won a national award for their work tackling underage drinking and promoting the health and wellbeing of local young people.

The partnership, which was launched in 2021 was commended for its work around proxy purchasing (where adults supply alcohol to under-age young people) and for its work in the local community, educating young people about alcohol awareness.

The projects include:

• During the school Prom season, local supermarkets provided ingredients for mocktails for secondary schools, as well as soft drinks and water free of charge. 
• QR codes linked to alcohol awareness videos have been placed around the town and have been used by schools and other partners for awareness via their own social media and websites.
• Fencing has been improved and there have been increased patrols a hotspot area in Peasholm Park. This area was highlighted by local residents as a regular haunt for young people to meet and drink alcohol.

PC Jon Dillon, CAP Co-ordinator comments: “We are delighted to have won this award that recognises the hard work of everyone involved. To have remained engaged and focused on our CAP vision and achieve some great results and feedback is something we are very proud of.

“It is only by having engagement from each of our stakeholders and each sharing the responsibility and work-load that this has been possible. Early intervention and prevention are at the forefront of our minds and the want for our young, Scarborough community to be safe and healthy is an ambition that all of us work tirelessly towards.  

“I would particularly like to mention the good work completed at Scalby Secondary School. The School has had great success promoting student Health Champions, holding ‘Smashed’ Live theatre groups and workshops in addition to invitations allowing positive engagement with local officers and educational input by North Yorkshire Police’s Community Team with support from the Alcohol Education Trust.”

About CAP

There are currently over 250 CAP partnerships in England, Scotland and Wales. They bring together local stakeholders with a shared interest in preventing underage drinking and encouraging responsible drinking among young adults. CAP partnerships are made up of 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 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

CAP Director Kate Winstanley says: “I’m delighted that in CAP areas around the country we are seeing such sustained reductions in regular drinking and anti-social behaviour among young people. CAPs are having a significant impact on reducing children’s alcohol consumption, improving their health and wellbeing and enhancing the communities where they live.” 

You can download a copy of the annual report here: https://www.communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk/images/CAP_Annual_Review_2022-23_-_digitalFINAL.pdf

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