A community group focused on highlighting the risks of underage drinking and health and wellbeing is set to launch.

The Millom Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) is set to launch on Monday, aimed at highlighting the risks of underage drinking as well as improving the health and wellbeing of local young people.

CAPs are made up of partnerships between local authorities, police, schools, retailers, neighbourhood groups and health providers, working together to prevent alcohol-related harm to young people and improve the quality of life for residents.

In Millom, partners include Cumbria Alcohol and Drugs Advisory Service (CADAS), Cumbria County Council, Copeland Council, Copeland Neighbourhood Policing Team and youth project Shackles Off.

The CAP will work with youth services and local organisations to provide alcohol-free activities for young people.

It will also work with local schools to take a proactive approach to alcohol education and ensure that young people are equipped to make the right decisions about issues including alcohol and drugs and anti-social and criminal behaviour.

As well as this, the group will work with local retailers to help them avoid making underage sales and reduce ‘proxy’ sales where adults buy alcohol for under-18s.

The CAP will be chaired by Leigh Williams, CEO of CADAS, who said: “I’m delighted to be chairing the Millom CAP as CADAS have been involved in the community in Millom delivering drug and alcohol education and dependency support for a couple of years now.

“Residents need the extra support a CAP can bring and some of our initial plans will include prioritising education and support for young people and their parents as well as looking at youth activities.”

David Macdonald of Copeland neighbourhood policing team added: “There is a continuing concern about the levels of underage drinking and alcohol availability to young people in Millom among local residents, councillors and retailers.

“The police will work with partner agencies in this CAP to deal robustly with the issues at hand and keep our young people safe from harm.”