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    Va. ’Sticker Shock’ Campaign Highlights Risks, Consequences of Giving Alcohol to Minors

    By Mithra Salmassi
    October 2009

    Alexandria, Va. – Teams of youth and adults from Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun counties and the City of Alexandria joined forces on October 10 to launch the first Northern Virginia regional Sticker Shock campaign, a youth-led initiative to educate adults who might be tempted to purchase alcohol legally and provide it to minors.

    The Sticker Shock campaign was sponsored by the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA), Arlington’s READY Coalition (a project of the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families), MADD Northern Virginia, Alexandria Youth Council, Virginia ABC, and area law enforcement. More than 100 local retailers participated in the campaign, including Giant Food, 7-11, CVS and a host of small grocery and convenience stores.

    During the campaign, teams of youth and adults will visited more than 100 Northern Virginia stores to place “warning” stickers on multi-packs of beer, wine coolers and other alcohol products, highlighting the penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors. In Virginia, providing alcohol to a minor is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with a punishment of up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail, or both. In addition to these penalties, a person found guilty of this offense shall have his or her license to operate a motor vehicle suspended for a period of not more than one year.

    The Sticker Shock campaign was launched with a press conference at the Giant at Bailey’s Crossroads at 10 am on Saturday, October 10. Speakers included Earl Cook, City of Alexandria’s Police Chief; Barbara A. Favola, Chair of the Arlington County Board; Debbie Sausville, whose teenage step-daughter was killed in a collision while driving drunk, after an adult illegally gave her alcohol; and two TC William High School Students: Charlotte Clinger and Eric Watkins, who is co-president of the Alexandria Youth Council.

    Following the press conference, teams of youth and adults dispersed throughout the region to visited participating retailers, where they affixed the warning stickers to alcohol products.