A new Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) has been launched in Plympton to address the issue of underage drinking in the local community.  The partnership held its official launch on 16 October 2025 at Carl's Boxing Stable.

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CAPs are community-led partnerships which bring together local police, councils, schools, retailers, and community groups. Their primary goal is to reduce alcohol harm in children and young people, improve their health and well-being, and enhance the wider community.

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The CAP in Plympton 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.  Partners in the CAP include Carl's Boxing Stable and Plymouth Community Homes.

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It will do this by providing positive and engaging activities for young people, offering them safe, supervised environments to socialise. These activities are a crucial part of the CAP strategy, providing opportunities to deliver alcohol education in an informal setting.

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The impact of CAPs has been measured and proven. Nationwide, partnerships have led to reductions in regular drinking among 13-16-year-olds and in alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

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A CAP in Plymouth was set up in September 2023 and has had a real impact on young people in the area.

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Kate Winstanley, Director of CAP said “We know from extensive research that underage drinking can lead to lots of challenges for young people in their education, relationships, health and increased risk of alcohol-related harm in later life.  CAP has proved to be a successful model for tackling underage drinking and just as importantly promoting positive health and wellbeing in children and young people.

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“Our evidence shows that CAPs are extremely effective in reducing the supply of alcohol to children, underage alcohol consumption and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

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“That’s why it’s great to see local partners coming together in Plympton to highlight the risks of underage drinking and reduce alcohol harm among local children and 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 a positive difference to the local community.”

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