Bottlewatch rolled out in North Warwickshire
North Warwickshire Community Safety Partnership will be able to keep check on under-age alcohol sales now a new scheme has launched in the borough.
Following a successful three month trial in Kingsbury, Bottlewatch was introduced to stores in the villages of Polesworth and Dordon on 19 June. The project aims to tackle underage drinking and anti-social behaviour by tagging alcohol bottles with store specific markers to identify where they were sold.
The tamper-proof stickers are colour coded for individual retailers who ‘mark-up’ bottles in their stores. If young people are found with alcohol the marking will inform the police where the drink has been obtained.
Through support of the scheme shopkeepers are helping to reduce the sales of alcohol to young people. Bottlewatch also compliments the ‘Challenge 21’ scheme that many shop owners voluntarily operate as the consequences of stocking the marked bottles serve as a reminder to be vigilant in requesting identification.
Support from Warwickshire Police and community safety officers will be available to the participating shops in the area to help prevent problems arising and track success of the scheme.
The initiative was piloted from October 2008 to January 2009 at three stores in nearby Kingsbury with some positive results. Evaluation of the trial has shown a reduction in incidences of alcohol related anti-social behaviour in the area. Shopkeepers have also found the scheme easy to implement and have developed relationships with their local Police Community Support Officers who provide support and advice.
Warwickshire County Council Community Safety Project Officer Helen Earp said: “The scheme aims to educate both young people and licensees about the risks of either buying or selling alcohol to the under-aged.
“Due to the success of Bottlewatch in Kingsbury we are now able to extend the project to neighbouring villages. Warwickshire is one of the safest places to live but with projects like this one, we can further protect the community from harm.”
Chief Inspector Mike Wylde, District Commander for the borough from Warwickshire Police, added: “We are pleased so support the Bottlewatch scheme. It enables us to work more closely with licensees and tackle the problem of underage drinking together. We hope to have even more success with the extension of the scheme.”