Partnership lays new foundations to tackle underage drinking

A new partnership, including Shropshire Council, alcohol retailers, pubs and the police, will be officially launched this month (May) to tackle underage drinking in Oswestry.

Oswestry Community Alcohol Partnership (Os-CAP), which will initially run from May to October, is being led by Shropshire Council’s trading standards team following a pilot partnership in Ludlow last year. It aims to work to address underage drinking through education, enforcement and changing public perceptions.

The initiative will see a number of key partners including shops and pubs, Shropshire Council, West Mercia Police, local schools and colleges, Oswestry Youth Café, Oswestry Town Council and the wider community join together in a bid to reduce the crime, anti-social behaviour and harm caused by underage drinking.

Preparation for the Os-CAP began in January this year with a number of key partners meeting regularly. In readiness for the official launch on 20 May, when all partners will meet to take forward the ideas that have already been discussed, the partnership has been asking young people and the community for their views. This is to ensure resources are targeted towards the needs of young people and the community, and to provide a baseline against which to measure the success of the partnership.

Initial feedback from Oswestry residents indicates that more than 75 per cent believe that underage drinking is a problem in the town but only 30 per cent of young people agreed that this is the case.

Of the young people who were asked (of secondary school and college age), about a quarter confirmed they drink alcohol on a regular basis. The responses showed that drinking largely takes place in the home and at the home of friends, with young people obtaining alcohol mainly from parents and friends who are over 18 years old – known as ‘proxy purchasing’. Despite Oswestry residents responding to the contrary, the results show that under 18s buying alcohol themselves from shops and pubs is relatively uncommon.

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council trading standards manager and chair of Os-CAP, said:

“The statistics confirm levels of alcohol consumption which Os-CAP partners suspected would be the case. It is very much about why the Os-CAP has been set up. The feedback also highlights that the problem is not always what the community can perceive it to be.

“Despite the number of under 18s who drink, it is also very important to recognise those who do not drink at all. We will be looking to these particular young people and their parents to help change attitudes and the behaviour of others who take a less responsible approach.”

Os-CAP will be working with young people, parents and residents to consider how the suggestions they have put forward can be used to reduce underage drinking in Oswestry. Suggestions include increasing the focus on checking proof of age ID, police presence on the streets and the cost of alcohol, confiscating alcohol from young people, using CCTV, reducing proxy purchasing, taking enforcement action, engaging with parents and providing activities for young people.

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said:

“The Os-CAP provides a great opportunity for us all to work together to tackle underage drinking. Underage drinking leads to anti-social behaviour and crime, but teenagers who have been drinking can also become victims themselves.

“We want to address the problem head-on by working together with the community and those who sell alcohol, and to educate young people about the dangers of underage drinking. The Oswestry CAP recognises that by working in partnership everyone can make a difference, and together we can bring about a change in attitudes and behaviour.”

Vince Hunt and Martin Bennett, Shropshire councillors for Oswestry, said:

“We fully support the Os-CAP and hope that everyone in the town can play a part in reducing the anti-social behaviour and crime caused by underage drinking, as well as promoting healthier and safer lives for all our young people.”

For further information on community alcohol partnerships, click here.