The Isle of Wight and Reading are likely to be the next two areas to launch Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) schemes designed to combat under-aged rinking and anti-social behaviour.
The Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG), which represents retailers large and small and has been the driving force behind CAP, has also been in talks with authorities and retailers in Bath, Oxford and North Yorkshire and is keen to extend the scheme into Scotland and Northern Ireland too.
The first CAP was launched in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, last spring and it brought together local councils, alcohol retailers and the police in a co-operative approach to under-age sales and trouble caused by drinking.
There are now six CAPs in operation, with the most ambitious opening across Kent at the end of last year (Independent Retail News, December 5).
“There is a lot of interest around the country. People are really picking up on this,” said Jeremy Beadles, chief executive at the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.
“The difference between this [CAP] and activities in the past is this is about partnership and not enforcement authorities telling retailers how to do things. It has brought retailers to the table.”
The RASG has published a guide to help local authorities in the country set up their own schemes.
The original article appears in Independent Retail News
