In anticipation for the upcoming 4th of July weekend, Join Together Atlantic County along with youth members from Atlantic County Stand Up and REBEL will be holding a Sticker Shock Campaign Tuesday June 25 at two Ventnor liquor stores. The campaign targets adults to educate them against purchasing liquor for minors.
Join Together Atlantic County
The group will begin the campaign 10:30 a.m. at Buy Rite Liquors, 5026 Wellington Ave. and will then proceed across the avenue to Plaza Discount Liquors, located in Ventnor Plaza shopping center. A beach clean-up follows.
The project consists of a team of young people, accompanied by adult chaperones, placing stickers on multi-packs of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine coolers, etc.). The stickers read: Keep It Legal! The penalty for purchasing alcohol for people under 21 is up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1000.
The goal of this project is to discourage adults and older peers (those who are 21 or over) from providing alcohol to minors. Limiting youth access to alcohol is a proven effective strategy to reduce underage drinking.
According to a release, 21 is the appropriate legal drinking age, but support for enforcing the age limit support is needed at home and in the community.
"Preventing underage drinking is everyone's responsibility, including parents, teens, public health agencies, law enforcement, and retail establishments," the release state. "Activities such as Sticker Shock help reduce access to alcohol and show that teens can be a driving force behind this movement."
The program is funded through a Drug Free Communities Grant, which is a collaborative effort between the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
