Second Community Alcohol Partnership launched

A Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) has been launched in Kent to tackle underage drinking and anti-social behaviour.

The partnership, which encourages pubs and other alcohol retailers, the council, police and health authorities to work together when tackling alcohol-related problems, has been set up following the success of a similar project in Cambridgeshire.

The new scheme will be piloted in three selected locations - Canterbury City Centre, an estate in Thanet, and Edenbridge - before it is rolled out across the county.

The partnership will aim to drive down underage alcohol sales and possession, and improve the health and education of young people in relation to alcohol.

The launch is backed by the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG), whose chairman Nick Grant said: "Experience shows that collaboration can help tackle underage drinking and Kent CAP takes it to the next level, involving local health authorities for the first time to address the health impact of alcohol consumption by young people.

"We're delighted to be involved in this partnership and look forward to working together to curb underage alcohol sales and possession."

Chief Constable Mike Fuller of Kent Police added: "I am hopeful that by working with our key partners, using not only enforcement but also preventative activity, we can make a positive step towards a change in young people's attitudes towards binge-drinking, and therefore, an improvement in behaviour and a reduction in disorder incidents within our communities"

Community Alcohol Partnerships were pioneered in St Neot's Cambridgeshire, where the scheme was heralded as an early success.

After its launch in September 2007, the partnership led to a drop in anti-social behaviour and the number of under-18s found with alcohol.

CAPs are also planned for Reading and North Yorkshire.