Local sticker shock events engage youth in underage drinking prevention

VERNON — Super Bowl Sunday is a time for celebration, team spirit, snack foods and, in some cases, underage drinking.
The Center for Prevention and Counseling reminds and encourages community members to be part of the solution to preventing underage drinking.
On Tuesday, Jan. 31 and Thursday, Feb. 2, the Center conducted several successful “Sticker Shock” events around the county.
“Sticker Shocks” are designed to reach adults, who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to underage drinkers. Bright stickers, warning about the penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors, are placed on all multi-packs of beer, alco-pops, and other alcohol products that might appeal to youth. The impact of the stickers is increased by media coverage of the event and, by the youth talking about their experiences.
“Sticker Shock” events represent a partnership between our young people, alcohol selling retailers, concerned parents, community members, prevention professionals, and law enforcement with the goal of educating potential furnishers, raising public awareness about underage drinking, and strengthening the deterrent effect of the law against providing alcohol to minors.
The Center for Prevention and Counseling has been engaging youth with “Sticker Shock” events since 2009, under the direction of the Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities.
On Thursday, Feb. 2, Patrice Reilly held “Sticker Shocks” at the other end of Sussex County at Shop Rite Liquors in Franklin and Woody’s Liquor Shop in Sussex with students, John, Alex & Max, from Sussex County Technical School’s SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) club.