New crackdown on underage drinking
A wide-ranging initiative aimed a tackling underage drinking on Arran has been just been launched.
The formation of the Arran Community Alcohol Partnership is seen as a positive way to collectively tackle the problem which, a recent survey confirms, is not uncommon in the island.
There is concern that on the island youth drinking is being accepted and condoned within the community and that parents and other older adults may be contributing to the problem.
The aim is that, through the establishment of a Community Alcohol Partnership, or CAP, to develop a culture where both adults and young people drink responsibly, young people under the age of 18 are only able to access alcohol under responsible and informed supervision, and safe consumption limits are understood.
As well as helping to reduce the instances of underage drinking, the aim is to reduce the harm caused through education and diversionary measures, working with key partners and people in the community. Steps have already been taken to monitor and help licensed premises become compliant with their conditions and legal responsibilities.
Underage drinking has long been prevalent on Arran, as with communities across Scotland. However, there are specific issues on Arran in relation to availablity. With the Co-op operating a strict Challenge 25 policy and limited other retail outlets, getting alcohol from the shops can be problematic for would-be underage drinkers.
That is where proxy purchasing by older adults, often family members comes in. A lot of youngsters are also thought to take alcohol from their homes, sometimes with their parents’ consent, and use secluded locations for its consumption.
New posters and billboards have been produced, some with stark warnings stating that it is illegal to buy alcohol on behalf of someone who is under 18 with a penalty of up to £5,000 or a possible prison sentence. Others highlight the dangers to youngsters by drinking.
The multiple effects of underage and irresponsible alcohol consumption in the community mean that there are a number of interested parties involved. Activity under the CAP is intended to complement the existing work of retailers and enforcement agencies, without increasing resources in the long term.
The CAP was launched at Arran High School last week with representatives from the majority of the partners
who are: the Arran Local Policing Team, North Ayrshire Council, Arran High School, Arran Youth Foundations (AYF), Arran Community and Voluntary Service (ACVS), Arran Community Council, the Co-operative and Asda (Ardrossan) and independent alcohol retailers. Further partners will be invited to join the group as appropriate.
An operational group will be responsible for the day-today operations and delivery of the action plan with the first meeting in early January 2020.
The are a number of Community Alcohol Partnerships across the country including six in Scotland.
The idea to launch one on Arran came after PC Sam Davison, who was on a summer secondment on Arran, carried out surveys on the level of drinking of young people on the island.
There were two confidential surveys conducted of groups of young people aged between 13 and 17 years and also an adult residents survey. The surveys are being used to inform the partnership and, due to their confidential nature, the results are not being published. However, the surveys confirmed that underage drinking is not uncommon on Arran and are also assisting in identifying how young people are acquiring alcohol and what diversionary opportunities they may be interested in.
Arran Sergeant Dougie Robertson said: ‘Through the establishment of the Arran Community Alcohol Partnership, we hope to encourage a culture where both adults and young people drink responsibly, young people under the age of 18 years are only able to access alcohol under responsible and informed supervision and safe consumption limits are known by all.
‘We also want to look at the ways in which alcohol falls into the hands of young people and deal appropriately with the issues around the unlawful or irresponsible supply of alcohol to them. The partnership comprises of individuals with roles in education, engagement with young people, retail of alcohol, the police and of course the community and therefore the partnership will approach these objectives from various angles in an effort to reduce the harm that can be caused if young people have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.’
CAP adviser for Scotland and England (East), Alan Simpson, added: ‘Alcohol can be seriously damaging to the health and development of young people and can impact negatively on the wider community.
‘For our part, CAP offers a great opportunity to make a real and lasting difference to the nation’s relationship with alcohol, starting with the current generation of young people. The Arran CAP is an excellent example of how, when partners come together for a common purpose, it can produce innovative, creative and engaging ways of tactfully encouraging young people to reassess their alcohol consumption and follow a healthy lifestyle.’