Oswestry adults told “don’t pass it on”

During August retailers and pubs in Oswestry will be marking alcohol bottles and cans with stickers bearing the ‘don’t pass it on’ message.

The ‘don’t pass it on’ campaign is being promoted by the Oswestry Community Alcohol Partnership (Os-CAP) to coincide with the publication of exam results and over the Bank Holiday weekend. It aims to reduce proxy purchases of alcohol – where over 18s purchase alcohol and supply it to young people who are under 18. 

Led by Shropshire Council’s trading standards service the Os-CAP is a scheme where alcohol retailers, pubs and the local community are working together in a bid to reduce the crime, anti-social behaviour and harm caused by underage drinking.

Frances Darling, trading standards manager with Shropshire Council, said:

“The evidence that we have from young people is that they mainly obtain alcohol from parents and friends who are over 18.  While Os-CAP recognises that many parents will be doing this responsibly – for example, one drink on special occasions – there is concern that this is not the case across the board.  In addition, significant concerns exist where friends who are over 18 are supplying alcohol to those who are under 18.  The Os-CAP is working very hard to crack down on proxy purchasing and is using the ‘don’t pass it on’ campaign as part of this work.”

Keith Barrow, Vince Hunt, Martin Bennett and Bill Benyon, Shropshire Councillors for Oswestry, said:

“We fully support the ‘don’t pass it on’ message and strongly encourage over 18s in Oswestry to support licensees in their bid to prevent proxy purchases of alcohol, and the subsequent harm that this causes to our young people and our community.”

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for trading standards, added:

“The Os-CAP continues to bring the trade, community, enforcers and many other partners together to tackle the effects of under-age drinking in Oswestry. The ‘don’t pass it on’ campaign is just one example of the work that the Os-CAP is currently undertaking to bring about a change in attitudes towards underage drinking.”

The ‘don’t pass it on’ message is aimed at raising awareness that supplying alcohol to under 18s is a serious criminal offence with a penalty of a fine up to £5,000.  It is also being used to highlight the fact that proxy purchasing wrecks young lives and harms society.