Ask your friends, neighbours and family about local young people and alcohol and I bet they’ll say something along the lines of it being an increasing worry. The media often brings the worst outcomes of young people’s drinking to our attention – a perceived by-product of a binge drinking epidemic and an out-of-control bored generation. No wonder people believe that things have never been so bad. Luckily, for the Craigentinny & Duddingston youth, the reality is startlingly different.
Data recently shared at the last Craigentinny & Duddingston Community Safety Sub-Group meeting in November reflected a more optimistic reality: alcohol related incidents involving young people have actually fallen when compared to previous years. Drug related incidents involving ‘legal highs’ are also on the decline. How is this explained? Education.
The East Edinburgh Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) was set up to educate the public on the impact alcohol abuse has on our communities.
This multi‐agency initiative, which is the first of its kind in Edinburgh, has focused on the Piershill area, following successful trials elsewhere in the UK. It brings together organisations, including the City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, Queen Margaret University, the NHS, local retailers, schools, and youth groups. Its aims are to reduce crime, antisocial behaviour, and the harm caused by underage drinking.
Some of the work achieved over the last two years to tackle under-age drinking includes:
• Working alongside local retailers to prevent underage and proxy sales.
• Targeting and prosecuting adults who supply alcohol to young people.
• Providing help, support and information for young people through youth services and local schools.
• Police patrols to confiscate alcohol from young people in areas where there have been problems with antisocial behaviour.
• Working with parents and communities to increase awareness about the risks of underage drinking.
• Sharing information so everyone can act quickly when problems arise.
Cllr Stefan Tymkewycz, local Councillor and Community Safety Sub-Group Convenor said: “It’s good to report a positive news story about young folk in our area. I’m not going to pretend that everything is perfect but both Police and Council reports reflect that drink and drugs are on a downward trend for many months now and that the youngsters must be commended as well as all the agencies involved in making our area a better place for all.”
Want to know more or would like to get involved? Check out the Craigentinny & Duddingston Neighbourhood Partnership website.
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