April is 'Sticker Shock Month' in Illinois
Volunteers, businesses work together to
remind adults that giving alcohol to minors is against the law
Send a link to a friend
[April 03, 2012]
CHICAGO -- For the fourth consecutive
year, the state of Illinois is coordinating a statewide educational
effort, entitled "Sticker Shock Month," reminding adults that it is
illegal to give alcohol to minors and for minors to use a fake ID.
|
During April -- which is also national Alcohol Awareness Month --
thousands of youth and adult volunteers will visit liquor
establishments throughout the state. During their visits, volunteers
will post Project Sticker Shock materials as a final reminder to
customers that providing alcohol to minors is "Illegal, Unhealthy, &
Unacceptable."
"In addition to the sprouting of plants and flowers, April is
also when we see the emergence of events typically associated with
underage drinking, such as prom and graduation parties," says Gloria
L. Materre, executive director of the Illinois Liquor Control
Commission, which has organized the statewide Sticker Shock events
for the past four years
To ensure the safety of Illinois youth, liquor retailers
throughout the state are working with teenagers, parents, law
enforcement personnel, local elected officials and other community
leaders to post Project Sticker Shock stickers, window decals,
posters and signs. (For the list of participating communities, see
www.dontbesorry.org/LocalPartners.htm.)
"We recently implemented a new parental responsibility component
to our educational endeavors, so this year's Sticker Shock efforts
will see an increased emphasis on educating parents," Materre
explains. "We recognize there is no easy fix to the underage
drinking problem, and we are asking parents to get involved and take
responsibility for their children's actions."
[to top of second column] |
"It is time for parents to stop looking the other way, and tell
children and teens that underage drinking is never OK, even during
prom and graduation season," adds Materre. "Family members, and
particularly parents, have the greatest influence on whether young
people decide to drink. If all echo the same message, I truly
believe we can change behavior and societal norms."
In addition to the numerous local groups fanning out across
Illinois, a variety of corporate chains will be posting Project
Sticker Shock materials in all their Illinois stores this April.
Also, a wide-ranging partnership of statewide organizations -- from
both the liquor industry and prevention field -- signed on to this
effort. (See
www.dontbesorry.org/DontSSpartners.htm for the list of
participating statewide organizations.)
For more information about the Project Sticker Shock and Parental
Responsibility campaigns -- as well as other ILCC underage drinking
awareness efforts -- visit
www.dontbesorry.org.
[Text from
Illinois Liquor Control Commission file received
from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
|