Scotch Whisky Association to Fund CAP Anti Alcohol Abuse Drive
Over the next three years, the SWA will contribute £300,000 to establish Community Alcohol Plans in high-harm areas across the country. The plans address local requirements and focus on three key pillars of activity to reduce alcohol-related harm.
The activities include
- providing positive activities for children and young people,
- creating retail signage and providing training to prevent underage sales and proxy purchases,
- and providing alcohol education for parents and in schools.
The new funding from SWA will help establish CAPs in high-harm areas throughout Scotland. Future work in these areas will be monitored, evaluated, and reported regularly.
Scotch Whisky Association to Fund CAPs Throughout Scotland
It has a solid evaluation framework and a track record of delivering significant impacts, and more than 250 CAPs have been established across the country. An evaluation of the program shows that there was an average 62% reduction in regular drinking among 13-16-year-olds; a 42% reduction in youth alcohol-related antisocial behavior; and a 77% reduction in proxy purchases.
Mark Kent, chief executive of the SWA, said: “The Scotch Whisky industry is committed to promoting safe, responsible consumption of alcohol, and tackling underage drinking.
“Our new partnership with Community Alcohol Partnerships will help to support the delivery of this targeted intervention, marking an important and valuable development in the industry’s wider commitment to tackling alcohol harm.
“Our work with CAP will ensure that the funding provided by the industry is directed in the best and most effective way to address underage drinking in Scotland. We look forward to collaborating with the team at CAP and seeing the results of our new partnership.”
Derek Lewis, chair of CAP, said: “Although alcohol consumption by children has declined for many years, more recent data has shown an increase and Scotland still has one of the highest rates of alcohol harm among children and young people internationally.
“The existing Scottish CAPs have already demonstrated real success in reducing these harms by helping local communities introduce action plans tailored to their own needs.
“We aim to accelerate the establishment of CAPs in other high-harm areas of Scotland and so help our children grow up with well-informed and responsible attitudes to alcohol. We welcome the support and financial commitment of the SWA and its members as we pursue this ambition.”
