A new Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) highlighting the risks of underage drinking to children and young people has launched in Sandwich. The official launch took place on Monday 7th July 2025.

CAPs are partnerships between police, local authorities, schools, and retailers who work together to highlight the risks of underage drinking and improve the health and wellbeing of local children and young people.  

Partners in the Sandwich CAP include  Kent County Council, Dover District Council, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, alcohol retailers, schools and the community.

The CAP will work to educate young people about underage drinking and help them to make better decisions about issues such as alcohol, drugs and anti-social behaviour.  

Working with local retailers, the CAP also aims to prevent underage sales and ‘proxy’ sales, where adults buy alcohol for under-18s.    

Kate Winstanley, Director of CAP said “We know from extensive research that underage drinking can lead to lots of challenges for young people in their education, relationships, health and also in later life.  We also know that the work CAPs do in local communities can help reduce things like the supply of alcohol to children, alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and underage street drinking.  That’s why it’s great to see local partners coming together in these new CAPs to highlight the risks of underage drinking and reduce alcohol harm among our young people.”  

‍She continued: “We are looking forward to seeing the initiatives that the CAPs are working on and to making an impact in the local community.”