THE Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP), Cambridgeshire County Council s bid to tackle underage drinking, has been nominated for a prestigious European award. Led by the council s Trading Standards department, CAP is one of just five nominees for the New

THE Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP), Cambridgeshire County Council's bid to tackle underage drinking, has been nominated for a prestigious European award.

Led by the council's Trading Standards department, CAP is one of just five nominees for the New Forms of Partnership category at the European Public Sector Awards.

The awards brings together the best, most innovative and efficient performers from the European public sector. Some 300 schemes were put forward across Europe for just four categories, and CAP was one of only 20 projects to make it through the tough judging process to be nominated.

CAP has been highly successful in St Neots in reducing the amount of youngsters found with alcohol and clearing drink related litter from communal areas.

The partnership uses a community base to tackle underage drinking. Rather than relying on an enforcement-only approach, Trading Standards and the Police have worked side by side with traders, schools, local councils, businesses, youth organisations, parents and the community.

The campaign has been praised by MPs and the Government and is being used in Cambridge as well as other parts of the country.

Officers have supported traders and larger businesses, such as national supermarket chains, have shared their training with smaller local shops. The campaign has not only targeted those youngsters found drinking but also helps shop staff say no to children trying to buy alcohol and to identify people who are proxy purchasing on behalf of children.

The awards are run by the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) which is backed by 15 European states and the European Commission.

By highlighting excellent examples of innovative public performance, the award encourages continued progress in addressing Europe's most pressing issues while giving the people behind these schemes the chance to share their ideas.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Tony Orgee said: "This has been an extremely successful scheme that is a testimony to the hard work of all the partners working together as a community to tackle this difficult problem.

Cambridgeshire and those communities who are using CAP can stand proud. The real reward for the whole of the community is not awards, such as this, but the success of this scheme in helping to protect our youngsters and therefore Cambridgeshire's future."

The award winners will be announced at the beginning of November.