Project Sticker Shock in Adams County

Project Sticker Shock is coordinated locally by Collaborating For Youth (CFY) and the Adams County Substance Abuse Prevention Program, and is designed to raise public awareness of the law and to reduce/eliminate access to alcohol by minors - particularly during times that may trigger underage alcohol use (homecomings, proms, and graduations).

 

CFY Youth Coalition members, mentors, and other concerned community members conduct Project Sticker Shock campaigns during Prom, Graduation, and Homecoming seasons.  Project Sticker Shock is a public information campaign that involves placing stickers (shown below) bearing the message “Don’t be a party to underage drinking. It’s against the law.” on cases of alcohol at local distributors. The sticker also features the warning that “Parents Who Host Lose the Most,” reminding adults that there are consequences to providing alcohol to their own or other children under age 21.  

  

 

 The first Project Sticker Shock was led by Dani Crone

(New Oxford) and Emily Bemis (Fairfield), past CFY Youth 

Coalition members.  Both stressed the message that,

“parents need to be our parents, not our friends. We

need adults in our lives to be responsible – don’t buy

us alcohol. It’s against the law.”  Dani served as the

Emcee for this first event and Emily recorded a radio

spot that was featured on WGTY Radio. 

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Why Is Project Sticker Shock Needed?

In Pennsylvania, any adult who provides alcohol to anyone under 21 – even their own children – or anyone who makes or sells a false ID card will receive a mandatory fine of $1,000 and $2,500 for each subsequent offense.  According to recent public opinion surveys, many adults are not aware of the law and penalties.

 

Pennsylvania teenagers caught lying about their age to obtain alcohol, purchasing, consuming, possessing, attempting to purchase, transporting alcohol, or carrying a false ID card could result in criminal charge, monetary fines, and suspension of their driving privileges.

 

Background

Project Sticker Shock is designed to reach adults who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to minors. Stickers warning about the penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors are placed on all multi-packs of beer, alco-pops, and other alcohol products that might appeal to underage drinkers. The impact of the stickers is increased by media coverage of the event and by longer-lasting signs to be displayed by participating retailers. The project represents a partnership between youth, retailers, concerned parents and community members, prevention professionals, and law enforcement with the goal of educating potential furnishers, raising public awareness about underage drinking, and strengthening the deterrent effect of the law against providing alcohol to minors.

 

The first Project Sticker Shock was designed by a group of youth in Pennsylvania in 1998, who started locally in their community and then expanded the project statewide in subsequent years.  Today, Sticker Shock Projects are held across the nation in a variety of formats.

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