Wirral Council is set to launch the first Community Alcohol Partnership in the North West region in a bid to reduce young people’s access to alcohol in the East Wallasey area.
The project aims to build on work already undertaken by Wirral Council’s Trading Standards Service and Merseyside Police.
Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs) have been successfully trialled in a number of areas across the country, including London, Durham and Shropshire. The East Wallasey CAP will focus on Seacombe and New Brighton and will promote responsible drinking as well as seek to clamp down on underage alcohol sales.
Wirral Councillor Bill Davies said: “The Community Alcohol Partnership is another example of close partnership work at a community level between Wirral Council and our partners at Merseyside Police and with local residents. Alcohol is one of the most serious, if not the most serious problem that blights communities, and tackling underage sales and educating people about its dangers is key to our strategy in making Wirral a healthier and safer place to live.”
The CAP will see a number of authorities and businesses working together and sharing best practice. The project will educate and advise youngsters on the sensible drinking limits and help local communities on how to tackle alcohol related problems. The CAP also wants to involve parents in the community as well as retailers, publicans and enforcement agencies.
Merseyside Police Chief Inspector Nick Gunatilleke said: “To reduce underage drinking, and to promote responsible drinking we need to work together with those who sell alcohol to better understand the problems they face and try to deal with them. The knock-on effects of binge drinking to individuals and local communities can be severe and together we can bring about a change in attitudes and behaviour.”
The CAP is there to build on the successful programme of enforcement and preventive activity.