Craig Mackinlay MP has attended a celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs), a Community Interest Company that brings together local retailers and licensees, trading standards, police, health services, education providers and other local stakeholders to tackle the problem of underage drinking and associated anti-social behaviour.
The event in London followed the launches of the Ramsgate and Broadstairs CAPs in March this year, which the South Thanet MP also attended and supported.
As part of the celebration, a number of Community Alcohol Partnerships were awarded for their efforts in reducing underage drinking and associated harms in their local community. This included an award that Craig presented to Neil Butcher of Kent Trading Standards who won the CAP Award for Outstanding Contribution due to the outstanding work that he carried out in Ramsgate and Broadstairs.
Craig Mackinlay MP commented:
“I am delighted that Neil Butcher of Kent Trading Standards has won the Community Alcohol Partnership Award for his Outstanding Contribution.
"I’ve seen first-hand how tirelessly Neil has worked to launch new CAPs in Ramsgate and Broadstairs this year, signing up businesses and schools and bringing together a wide range of partners, including local councils, police, fire and rescue services, schools, retailers and the community, all working to tackle underage drinking and associated anti-social behaviour in the area.
"In the run-up to the launch, over 400 pupils aged 14-17 were surveyed regarding their drinking habits, revealing that a quarter of them had been drunk in the previous four weeks.
"Neil’s determination to combat this is outstanding.”