Key to CAP’s success is that we support local communities to create strong partnerships that identify local problems of underage and young adult drinking and design and manage their own action plans.
In Edinburgh, CAPs covering the whole of the city have made great connections with retailers, schools, the local authority and councillors, MPs, community groups, youth clubs and even the army.
All the CAPs also come together to exchange best practice and ideas, for “Weeks of Action” and to make sure CAP is represented at popular community events. They use a range of educational resources to reach young people who are at risk of turning to alcohol, as well as getting messages out to adults who might be providing it to them.
A visit by a Hibernian footballer to Leith Academy to talk about healthy lifestyles was especially popular.
In the North East of the City, Police Scotland wanted to target local hotspots known for underage drinking and engage with the young people gathering there. They tried an innovative approach – identifying online educational resources and converting them into strategically placed QR codes so youngsters could tap in and access information.
Officers work with Trading Standards to visit local off-licence premises, providing staff with posters, badges and window vinyls, while identifying any premises that might be selling alcohol to young people.
They provide training workshops and make joint patrols with Scotmid store security staff in areas where underage drinking, alcohol theft or proxy purchase – where adults attempt to buy alcohol on behalf of youngsters - are particular issues for the stores.
The CAP also supported the “Beat Boredom” summer holiday program, hosted by Hibernian Football Club, which offered youngsters a wide range of summer activities such as football, cooking, self defence, mocktail making, litter picks, computer games and a visit to a nearby adventure park. Hibernian also hosted an introduction to fencing event for young people with Keith Cook, a British fencing champion and Commonwealth medallist which the CAP supported.
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