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The CAP received the award at an event at Westminster on June 27.

The partnership was praised for the work it has done to engage young people and parents in the local area.

Some of the projects it has organised include:

• Joining forces with local schools and attending parent’s evenings to engage with hard-to-reach families;
• Running community events in areas affected by anti-social behaviour.

These events provide great opportunities for the Police to engage with local youths and their parents to find out what they know about underage drinking and the effects alcohol can have on them and their bodies.  

Sgt Christopher Giddens, from Norfolk Police and CAP Co-Ordinator comments:

“After hearing last year how many parents required a trusted source of information around reducing alcohol harm in young people we realised we had an opportunity to provide this by building on existing frameworks with the letters home the police send to young people caught with alcohol.”

“Bespoke letters were developed to provide support information to both the young person’s themselves and their parents/guardians. The letters developed were from a perspective of support and are sent from the local CAP rather than punitive existing police process. The letters have since been requested by another CAP in Norfolk to roll out a standard Norfolk approach and it is hoped they will break down barriers and to empower parents to have the sometimes difficult conversations around alcohol and young people.”

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 and young people’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.”

https://www.communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk/images/ CAP_Annual_Review_2022-23_-_digitalFINAL.pdf