Asda has announced plans to donate almost £1m, around £300,000 annualy, to Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP).
The move is designed to increase the number of CAPs nationwide while improving the quality and range of services they provide in local communities.
CAP sets up and supports local partnerships that aim to reduce alcohol harm in children and young people, improve their health and well-being, and enhance their communities.
Asda has supported the charity since 2009.
The company said the new level of funding will “enable CAP to expand its outreach and ability to continue to grow in high-harm regions including Scotland, the North East, North West, and South West of England as well as re-starting the CAP program in Northern Ireland.”
According to CAP, the single most significant factor fueling underage drinking is parental supply with 71% of regular drinkers aged 11-15 years old obtaining alcohol from their parents.
The additional funding also hopes to boost positive activity and youth outreach work across local partnerships, supporting some of the UK’s most deprived communities.
To further alert customers about the risks of supplying alcohol to children, Asda will be displaying point-of-sale signs in its stores, aimed at directing customers to further guidance from the UK’s Chief Medical Officer.
Kris Comerford chief commercial officer for food at Asda commented: “At Asda, we recognise the importance of ensuring a healthy, alcohol-free, childhood and by committing funding to CAP we will be able to help to provide vital support to at-risk groups in communities that previously have not had access to these valuable resources. By significantly increasing Asda’s support for CAP, we hope to spread the real-world benefits of CAP to more people and more communities across UK.”
Chair of CAP Derek Lewis explained that there is still much to be done to reduce the harms caused by underage drinking: “The additional funding provided by Asda will enable us to turbocharge our efforts and give greater focus to parental attitudes and behaviour. Asda’s planned in-store communications will provide valuable help in amplifying CAP’s key messages.”
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