New project targets underage drinking
Janu12
Parents, retailers and licensees will also be the focus for the Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) scheme, which looks at innovative ways of reducing alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and crime.
Initiatives planned over the next six months include retailer training seminars, mentoring of smaller retailers by national chains, and school workshops, involving both young people and parents.
As part of the project, Northamptonshire’s Trading Standards Team has carried out a test purchasing exercise visiting 20 retailers around Daventry town centre with 6 of them selling to the underage purchaser. All premises have received a follow up visit and a new retailer training pack.
In addition, those that illegally sold alcohol have had their systems reviewed and been provided with specific advice and support to avoid making underage sales in the future.
Most retailers recognise that they have a responsibility to the local community and have been keen to involve themselves in this new initiative.
Test purchases were also attempted at seven premises in Brackley but none of them sold alcohol to anyone under 18. These premises will also be visited and provided with the retailer training pack.
The CAP project is being run by the Daventry District & South Northamptonshire Community Safety Partnership, which brings together partners including Daventry District Council, South Northamptonshire Council, Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Police and the Police Authority, Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, NHS Northamptonshire and the Probation Service and the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the community.
Jean Morgan, Chair of the Daventry District & South Northamptonshire Community Safety Partnership, said: “The aim of the CAP is to not only reduce anti-social behaviour, but also highlight the health risks of underage drinking to young people, their parents, and also retailers and licensees.
“As the Trading Standards operations show, there is work to be done to educate retailers who are not abiding by the law and selling alcohol to under 18s.
“We hope the pilot project will make these retailers more aware of their legal duties and inform young people and parents of the negative impact of underage drinking on the community.”
A programme of workshops will be held in secondary schools in Daventry and Brackley to try to make the students more aware of the impact of alcohol on them and the community.
An event for members of the public is also being held at William Parker School in Daventry on Tuesday, January 18, with a presentation by Northamptonshire Police’s Licensing Officer about the risks associated with alcohol and what the signs that parents should be watching for in their children. Anyone can go along and doors open at 6.30pm.
If the CAP pilot project proves successful it could be rolled across the rest of Northamptonshire.
For more information about any of the events contact the Community Alcohol Partnership at CAP@northamptonshire.gov.uk or call 07734 739937.