A year ago, I characterised CAP as having made a major change of gear, being poised for rapid expansion and the launch of action to reduce the supply of alcohol by parents to their young children.

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This year, I am pleased to say that the results are very much in evidence. The expanded team and additional funding secured in 2024 have enabled a near doubling of the number of new CAPs launched from 18 in 2024 to 55 in 2025, taking the total since CAP was founded to 360. At the same time, the pipeline of communities considering launching a CAP rose to 140, over three times the number at the beginning of the year. Such growth reflects increasingly widespread understanding of the continuing need to reduce underage alcohol consumption, as well as recognition of the unrivalled effectiveness and value for money offered by the CAP model.

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Alongside this growth, detailed planning and further fundraising led to development in the latter part of the year of a multi-faceted campaign to inform parents of the impact of alcohol consumption on young teenagers and of the Chief Medical Officers’ advice that an alcohol-free childhood is best. The campaign, which is designed both to create understanding and change behaviours, is being piloted in locations across the UK during 2026. The pilots will be evaluated rigorously and modified as necessary before being rolled out across all active CAPs, leading to consideration of the potential for a national campaign, reaching out beyond those communities with CAPs.

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In achieving these results, great credit must go to the small but highly committed and effective CAP national and regional team, to those who are supporting the introduction of CAPs in their communities and then making them work, to the ongoing funding and support provided by our funders, and to my fellow board members for their support and wise counsel.

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And finally… It was with great sadness that we received news of the death of Baroness Newlove, who chaired the board through CAP’s early years and was instrumental in securing recognition of the need to address the problems of underage alcohol consumption.

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Derek Lewis

Chair

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Your can read the report here.