The Coalition Youth Kick off "Project Sticker Shock" Campaign

The Birmingham Bloomfield Community Coalition members kicked off “Project Sticker Shock,” a youth-led initiative to change adult attitudes about selling and providing alcohol to minors at the Beverage Warehouse on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

This public awareness campaign will be taking place in stores statewide this month. The project is sponsored by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office to bring attention to the issue at the start of prom and graduation season.

Local youth from Birmingham Bloomfield Community Coalition are part of a movement of youth statewide working with participating stores to spread “Sticker Shock” waves across Oakland County in an effort to reach adults who might be tempted to buy alcohol for youth under 21 who can’t buy it legally themselves. The florescent orange-and-black stickers stand out on the beer cases for all to see, and provide a strong reminder: “Providing Alcohol to Minors is Illegal! Fines are up to $1,000 &/or up to 6 months in jail!”

“This is my second time being involved in Sticker Shock. The orange stickers look really cool on the cases in the store. All adults know the law, but some still choose to break it. The stickers will hopefully make them think twice," commented Meaghan Patterson, a member of The Coalition’s Youth Action Board and junior at Groves High School. Julie Vogl, another member of the Youth Action Board and junior at Groves High School was quick to add, “It’s good to make people aware of the consequences. These stickers will definitely make people look twice.”

Store manager, Clark Acho, noted that the consequences are severe. “This is a good reminder for the general public about the law. When they’re old enough, the doors are open.” Youth leaders from The Coalition and other local participating retail stores are working together to create a safer, healthier lifestyle by combating the problem of underage drinking. Alcohol has been identified as the number one drug of choice among Michigan youth, and according to local youth, one of the easiest substances to obtain. The Sticker Shock campaign hopes to cause adults to think twice before making it any easier for youth to access alcohol.

Project Sticker Shock is sponsored by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office and the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities (ACHC).

The Sticker Shock campaign was first introduced in Maine in February of 2001 by youth in the Fort Kent area who designed the stickers and posters that are now being used there and in Calhoun County and this Oakland County campaign. The Coalition recognizes the Beverage Warehouse for its desire to manage the sale of alcohol responsibly and wants to showcase the business as a partner in this effort.

Posted on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 (Archive on Thursday, June 26, 2008)
Posted by lrondello Contributed by lrondello

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