New group will tackle Oswestry teen drinking problem

A group set up to tackle Oswestry's under-age drinking problem was launched today.

The Oswestry Community Alcohol Partnership (Os-CAP) officially kicked off today at The Pedigree in Shrewsbury Road.

More than 40 people attended the inaugural meeting of Os-CAP and heard that the group was determined to tackle the underage alcohol problem once and for all.

Preparations began in January after a similar pilot scheme was organised in Ludlow and it is planned to run the Oswestry partnership until October.

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council trading standards manager and chair of Os-CAP, said that it was "critical" the partnership worked.

He said: "We are excited about the group.

"They are very positive about what we can achieve in the next few months.

"It has been a problem in Oswestry for a long time.

"If you ask anybody they won't deny the history."

He added: "It is critical the partnership works together."

Shropshire Councillor Martin Bennett said: "Drinking is a problem for the whole community.

"Hopefully we will start to see some improvements," he added.

Philip Loring, community alcohol partnership officer from the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group, said: "We started work with Shropshire Council in Ludlow."