Morgan Peer Advocates Launch Sticker Shock Campaign

Is every adult aware of the fact that it is illegal to serve alcohol to kids under the age of 21 or to buy it for them?

That's what Peer Advocates group wants to insure.

Peer Advocates along with Mother's Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) has launched a sticker shock project targeting adults in the area. The stickers are designed to be placed on multi-packs of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine coolers, etc.) at retail liquor stores.

The purpose of Sticker Shock is to raise public awareness among adults in the community said Andrea Kaye, Peer Advocate co-facilitator and program coordinator at .

"The youth involved with this project are very dedicated and concerned that adults provide alcohol to their underage peers and they do not want this practice to continue," noted Kaye.

On January 26, teams of young people, accompanied by an adult chaperone, will head to the retail stores in town including , , , , , , , and . The stores are participating in the project.

The parents, teens and business people involved in this project are a great example of asset building in our community, said Kaye.

Limiting youth access to alcohol is a very effective strategy to reduce underage drinking, she said.

"We have the right drinking age. We just need to support it in our homes and in our communities," said Kaye. "We need to enforce 21 by reminding adults to obey the law."

Allyson Skeens, the Morgan School Resource Officer, is impressed by the youth and retail participation and cooperation.

"Not only is it a good opportunity for the teens to stand up for their beliefs but it is a perfect venue for the teens to express their concerns to the public and to their peers," says Skeens.

Kaye reinforces that preventing underage drinking is everyone’s responsibility; including parents, school personnel, teens, public health agencies, law enforcement and retail establishments.

Activities such as Sticker Shock help reduce youth access to alcohol and also show that teens can be the driving force behind this movement.

The program is partially funded by Middlesex United Way and Partnership For Success. For more information, contact at 860-669-1103.