A new Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) highlighting the risks of underage drinking to children and young people has launched in Dover. The official launch took place on Saturday 29^th March at Impact Fest in Pencester Gardens, Dover.

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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.  

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The Dover 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.  

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

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Dover District Commander Chief Inspector Liz Cokayne-Delves said: “As police, we sadly see examples of the impact that purchasing and drinking alcohol at a young age can have on children's health, and it is important we work to protect them from harm. Irresponsible alcohol sales also have a knock-on effect on the community due to the antisocial behaviour they can cause.

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“For these reasons, I am pleased that Kent Police is part of Dover's new CAP, which sees a range of organisations working together to keep the public safe.”

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‍Kate Winstanley, Director of CAP said “"We understand that underage drinking can have far-reaching consequences for young people, affecting their development and future opportunities. CAPs play a crucial role in preventing these harms by addressing the root causes, such as access to alcohol and related anti-social behavior. We're delighted to see this new CAP bringing together local expertise to educate and protect our young people. ‍

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

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