This is clearly an issue that needs addressing and so I am delighted that the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have once again come up with an innovative way to tackle a common problem.
The Royal Borough's Anti-Social Behaviour and Drug and Alcohol Action Teams have joined Thames Valley Police and T2 to launch a new three-stage process which aims to curb underage drinking in public places. Not only does the scheme aim to stop anti-social behaviour but also to identity those vulnerable children who are at greatest risk of developing a dependency on alcohol.
The process with consist of a letter being sent out to the young person’s parents/carers when they are first caught drinking underage. If caught again, police will carry out a home visit to speak with their parents/carers. Finally, if they are caught after this an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) will be developed requiring a full assessment with the young person's substance misuse worker at T2 and at least one alcohol awareness session.
It is vital that residents and young people in the area are made aware of this new scheme and so yellow cards outlining this process will be handed out and posters will be distributed to youth centres and secondary schools around the borough at the start of the new term.
With alcohol-related behaviour greatly affecting the quality of life for people of all ages, I was thrilled to learn of this joint venture; yet another example of how hard the Council work to improve the lives of local residents.