[Archived] City of Alexandria and Local Restaurants Launch “Project Sticker Shock” to Remind Adults Not to Purchase Alcohol for Minors Under 21

For Immediate Release: December 10, 2020

Throughout December, the City of Alexandria is collaborating with local restaurants in this year’s Project Sticker Shock campaign, an annual youth-led initiative to educate adults about the serious penalties for providing alcohol to minors under 21 years old. The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) and Alexandria youth, who spearhead the campaign each year, are providing participating restaurants with window clings and bright warning stickers for delivery boxes and bags. While the initial group of partners includes pizza restaurants because the delivery boxes easily facilitate the project stickers, any restaurants with suitable delivery packaging are encouraged to participate.  

Youth age 13 and older have reported in national polls that it is easy to get alcohol from adults, including sometimes from parents with substance use disorders. Providing alcohol to a person under age 21 is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia, punishable with a driver’s license suspension and a fine of up to $2,500, and up to 12 months in jail, or both.

Recent Alexandria survey data highlights that the majority of eighth, 10th and 12th graders in Alexandria have not used alcohol in the past 30 days. However, 29% of 12th graders, 13% of 10th graders and 8% of eighth graders reported using alcohol in the past 30 days. Additionally, 16% of 12th graders reported that they got drunk once or more in the previous two weeks. These findings highlight the important role teens, parents and community members play in sharing the health and legal consequences associated with underage alcohol access and use.

Youth peer advisors, Alexandria high schoolers who are employed by the City’s Counselor Aide program, mentor and support hundreds of elementary school students. They led this year’s Project Sticker Shock effort by inviting restaurants to collaborate in a unique opportunity to prevent underage drinking and reduce the potential health consequences associated with youth alcohol use, including alcohol abuse, addiction, driving while intoxicated, injuries and death.

Residents are encouraged to promote the campaign on social media by sharing pictures of window clings and “stickered” delivery boxes and bags, and tagging SAPCA on Twitter ( @SAPCA_AlexVA) and Facebook ( @SAPCAlexandria). 

Restaurants interested in participating in this year’s campaign are encouraged to visit healthieralexandria.org/SAPCA.

SAPCA is an alliance of more than 80 members representing parents, youth, schools, City 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. 

Visit healthieralexandria.org/SAPCA to view a list of restaurants that are participating in this year’s campaign and learn more about the City’s efforts to prevent substance use and abuse.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.