A new Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) has been launched in Ebbw Vale today, bringing local organisations together to reduce alcohol-related harm among children and young people and support safer communities where everyone can feel safe.
The partnership is a key priority of the Blaenau Gwent Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce, led by the Council, which has recognised the impact that underage drinking can have on young people’s health, wellbeing and life chances, as well as on the wider community.
The launch took place at Ebbw Vale Institute, with partners pledging their commitment to work together to:
- Educate and support young people by working with schools and youth service groups to raise awareness of the risks of underage drinking and help young people make responsible choices around alcohol, drugs and anti-social behaviour.
- Restrict access to alcohol by working closely with local retailers to enforce licensing regulations and prevent the illegal sale of alcohol to under-18s. This includes tackling illegal ‘proxy sales’, where adults buy alcohol on behalf of children, and ensuring all retailers operate the ‘Challenge 25’ policy.
- Provide positive alternatives through safe, engaging and supervised activities for young people. These settings will also offer opportunities to deliver informal alcohol education where young people feel comfortable and supported.
Community Alcohol Partnerships have proved effective in other parts of the UK, helping to reduce regular drinking among 13–16-year-olds and the alcohol-related anti-social behaviour that can result.
In Ebbw Vale, partner organisations include Blaenau Gwent Council (Youth Service, Trading Standards, Licensing and Community Safety), Gwent Police; South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and Tai Calon Community Housing.
The partnership will also work closely with local alcohol retailers, including independent shops and national chains.
Establishing the CAP will enable partners to apply for funding to support targeted initiatives and activities.
Councillor Sue Edmunds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said:
“I was delighted to attend the official launch of Blaenau Gwent’s first Community Alcohol Partnership here in Ebbw Vale. This is a significant step forward in supporting young people to make positive choices around alcohol - for their own health and wellbeing, and for the benefit of our communities.
“By working together we are building resilience, empowering young people and helping people of all ages to lead informed, healthy and independent lives.”
Kate Winstanley, Director of Community Alcohol Partnerships, said:
“We know from extensive research that underage drinking can lead to lots of challenges for young people in their education, relationships, health and increased risk of alcohol-related harm in later life. CAP has proved to be a successful model for tackling underage drinking and just as importantly promoting positive health and wellbeing in children and young people. Our evidence shows that CAPs are extremely effective in reducing the supply of alcohol to children, underage alcohol consumption and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.
“That’s why it’s great to see local partners coming together in Ebbw Vale to highlight the risks of underage drinking and reduce alcohol harm among local children and young people.”
She continued: “We are looking forward to seeing the initiatives that the CAP is working on and to making a positive difference to the local community.”
Councillor Tommy Smith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Environment, said:
“As a Marmot council, the health and wellbeing of our young people is of paramount concern, and we are committed to working with partners to reduce inequalities & develop programs that support safer neighbourhoods throughout Blaenau Gwent. Via the Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce, we continue to listen to residents & businesses in tandem with young people to act upon the issues that matter most to them.
“We bring key support mechanisms to local communities that report and record anti-social behaviour so we can target the areas most in need, providing engagement from our own community safety team, and neighbourhood policing teams. In identified hotspot locations we’ve also worked with businesses to review their security measures and promote 'Storenet' radio systems, as well as providing information on how to report crime and anti-social behaviour appropriately.
“The new Community Alcohol Partnership is a great initiative that strengthens this work and is another important step in making our communities feel safer.”
Notes to editors
About Community Alcohol Partnerships
Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs) bring together local stakeholders who share a commitment to preventing underage drinking and encouraging responsible drinking among young adults. A robust evaluation framework shows CAPs deliver significant reductions in alcohol supply to children, underage street drinking and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.
There are more than 350 CAPs across England, Scotland and Wales.
More information: www.communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk
About the Blaenau Gwent Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce
The Blaenau Gwent Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce was launched two years ago and brings together the Council, Gwent Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, Blaenau Gwent Youth Service, Tai Calon Community Housing and South Wales Fire and Rescue.
The Taskforce works closely with residents and businesses to understand local concerns, improve reporting of crime and anti-social behaviour, and target responses effectively. This includes identifying hotspots, increasing patrol visibility and referring persistent perpetrators to the multi-agency Anti-Social Behaviour Perpetrator Case Management Group to consider the most appropriate intervention, support or sanctions, which may include civil injunctions which could potentially carry exclusions from defined areas i.e. town centre.
In 2024, the Taskforce won a national community safety award.