A pilot scheme launched to tackle underage drinking on the streets of St Neots is attracting interest from politicians.
MP for Huntingdon Jonathan Djanogly and Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Brokenshire visited Longsands College in St Neots on Friday (February 29) to learn about the St Neots Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP).
Led by Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards, the groundbreaking project could act as a blueprint for other towns in the UK in the fight to reduce the growing problem of young people drinking.
Mr Djanogly said: "The core of the idea is that, by just passing new laws, you're not going to stop certain social ills, in this case young people drinking on the street.
"To get to grips with the issue you have to have a community approach, and this is what CAP is doing - an overall approach which is more than just saying we are going to punish those who have done wrong.
"It's about education, it's about being more proactive, it's about effective policing and intelligence and it's about the community taking it upon their own shoulders.
"I was very impressed with the work which has been done so far. It's still early days, but from what the police have said, the number of incidents have dropped dramatically."
A range of initiatives have been trialled to try to reduce alcohol sales to children. This has included better education and support for shops, parents and children.
The police, working with trading standards, have also been carrying out enforcement action, from taking alcohol away from youngsters, to dealing with both young people trying to buy alcohol and adults buying on their behalf.
Photo: Jonathan Djanogly shows his support for the St Neots Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP)."