[Archived] Teams of Youth, Adults to 'Shock' Patrons Purchasing Alcohol

For Immediate Release
October 15, 2018

For More Information, Contact
Emma Beall, SAPCA Coordinator
703.746.3670

On Saturday, Oct. 20, teams of youth and adults from Alexandria will "shock" purchasers of alcohol by placing bright red warning stickers on multi-packs of beer and other alcohol products in Alexandria.

The Sticker Shock campaign will kick off with a press conference at 10 a.m. on Oct. 20, at the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), 720 N. St. Asaph St., Alexandria.

Following the press conference, teams of youth and adults will travel throughout the city to visit more than 50 participating retailers and affix the warning stickers. Local retailers who are participating in the campaign include Giant Food, Safeway, 7-11, CVS and a host of small grocery and convenient stores.

Sticker Shock is a youth-led initiative designed to educate adults who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to minors. The stickers contain warnings about the serious penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors. In Virginia, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with a punishment of up to $2,500 and 12 months in jail. In addition to these penalties, a person found guilty will have his or her driver's license suspended.

Research shows that it is easy for youth to obtain alcohol. National polls report that youth ages 13 and older say it is easy to get alcohol from adults -- sometimes from their own parents who themselves may have drinking problems. In a recent survey, 30 percent of Alexandria high school seniors said they drank alcohol in the past 30 days.

Sticker Shock is sponsored by the Substance Abuse Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA); DCHS; Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Alexandria Police Department; Alexandria Sheriff's Office; and Virginia ABC.

SAPCA is an alliance of more than 80 members representing parents, youth, schools, City of Alexandria health and recreation agencies, media, nonprofits, businesses, faith communities, policymakers and law enforcement whose mission is to engage the entire community in reducing youth substance use and abuse in Alexandria. SAPCA was created in 2007 as part of the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria.

For more information about SAPCA, visit healthieralexandria.org/sapca.

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