Town of Arlington
Department of Health and Human Services
Christine Bongiorno, Director
27 Maple St.
Arlington, MA 02476
For Immediate Release
Monday, April 4, 2016
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Contact: Christine Bongiorno
Phone: 781-316-3170
Email: CBongiorno@town.arlington.ma.us
Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition to Participate in Sticker Shock Campaign
ARLINGTON — The Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition (AYHSC) announces that it will lead a community-wide project aimed at restricting youth access to alcohol.
On Sunday, April 10, student members of AYHSC will conduct a “Sticker Shock” campaign at licensed alcohol retailers in town. A small group of high school students and adult chaperones will visit stores and adhere stickers, created by Arlington High School’s AYHSC Student Advisor Club, to multi-packs of beer, wine coolers and other alcoholic beverages.
Sticker Shock is part of a national campaign to raise public awareness of the minimum drinking age law and to discourage adults over 21 from purchasing and/or providing alcohol to minors.
“The youth involved with this project are advocating for their peers,” said Karen Koretsky, AYHSC Youth and Outreach Project Coordinator. “Unfortunately, it is far too easy for minors to gain access to alcohol. The consequences, which can range from alcohol poisoning to addiction and motor vehicle accidents, can be deadly.”
The goal of the Sticker Shock campaign is to motivate young adults to actively participate in community prevention initiatives. By partnering with retailers around town to restrict third party sales and prevent youth substance abuse, AYHSC hopes to increase awareness and action surrounding the campaign.
“This campaign is especially timely as we near prom and graduation season,” said Ivy Laplante, Director of AYHSC. “We urge adults not to provide alcohol to minors as it is detrimental to teenage brain development.”
The Sticker Shock campaign took place in Arlington last year and was well received by the public.
For more information about AYHSC, please visit arlingtonma.gov/ayhsc or contact Ivy Laplante at ilaplante@town.arlington.ma.us.
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