Community alcohol partnership success
The impact of a pilot scheme which brought together alcohol retailers, pubs and the local community to tackle underage drinking in Ludlow has been highlighted by the results achieved.
The Ludlow Community Alcohol Partnership (L-CAP) was led by Shropshire Council’s trading standards team following successful trials of similar initiatives in other parts of the country.
The initiative saw shops and pubs, Shropshire Council, West Mercia Police, local schools and colleges, Ludlow Town Council, doctors’ surgeries and the wider community join together in a bid to reduce the crime, anti-social behaviour and harm caused by underage drinking through a six month programme of education, enforcement and actions to change public perceptions.
During the operation of the L-CAP there was:
• a reduction in anti-social behaviour – broad data shows that there was a 14 per cent reduction, compared to the previous six months
• an improved relationship between licensees and enforcement agencies – the percentage of licensees that either strongly agreed or tended to agree that enforcement agencies are approachable increased by more than 30 per cent
• underage sales at pubs and other premises where alcohol is consumed were less than in other areas of Shropshire – more than 65 per cent of test purchases in the area were refused
• an increased level of training undertaken by licensees – more than 20 representatives undertook free training on preventing underage and proxy sales which is people over 18 years old buying alcohol on behalf of those who are underage
In addition, feedback and surveys revealed an increase in alcohol seized from young people, a shift away from proxy purchasing and young people found it more difficult to obtain alcohol.
Frances Darling, Shropshire Council’s trading standards manager and chair of L-CAP said:
“I am delighted with the overall outcomes that were achieved in what was a relatively short time-scale. A huge amount of work has been undertaken to achieve these results and I would like to thank everyone for their contribution. We have learned a great deal from this pilot project, including areas where we could have achieved even more.
“We are now in the process of launching a community alcohol partnership in Oswestry as a result of the successful work that has been undertaken in Ludlow.”
The L-CAP delivered a number of projects including ‘Challenge 25’ training for licensees, joint enforcement patrols, engagement with the community at a number of Ludlow events, education through the secondary school, college and Shropshire Youth service, test purchasing exercises and a ‘Don’t Pass It On’ campaign promoted by licensed premises to highlight how proxy purchasing is illegal.
Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said:
“The L-CAP has been a great opportunity for us all to work together to tackle underage drinking head-on.
“Working together with the community and those who sell alcohol, on a range of initiatives including educating young people about the dangers of underage drinking, has made a difference in terms of bringing about a change in attitudes and behaviour.”
Rosanna Taylor-Smith and Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire councillors for Ludlow, said:
“We have fully supported the L-CAP from day one and are very encouraged by the results achieved, particularly the reduction in anti-social behaviour.”
The targeted work under L-CAP has now come to an end, taking place from July 2010 to January 2011, but the partnership will continue to monitor the effects of underage drinking in Ludlow and is able to deliver specific projects as the need arises.
For more information on community alcohol partnerships click here.
