Partnership approach is working in underage drinking scheme

A Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) scheme in St Neotts, Cambridgeshire, has reported positive results since it began last year, details an article in the The Hunts Post. The scheme has brought together police, trading standards, schools and charities in response to concerns from the community and local residents about high levels of underage drinking.

It has resulted in a local Tesco providing a security guard in its car park on Friday afternoons  specifically to prevent adults purchasing alcohol for those under the legal purchasing age of 18. It has also resulted in a significant reduction in the number of confiscations of alcohol from young people and there are plans to expand the partnership approach across the region. The success of the scheme has reportedly caught the interest of the Home Office who are considering promoting it as best practise in addressing underage drinking.