‘Project Sticker Shock’ Targets Local Distributors

 

by Jonathan Weaver

A group of West Shamokin students hope bright yellow stickers on products at three local beer distributors will make consumers think a second longer about their alcoholic decisions this week.

More than a half-dozen West Shamokin SADD students partnered with the Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission to tag 2,400 cases of beer during “Project Sticker Shock” Tuesday afternoon.

Cases were tagged at Shannock Valley Beer Distributor in Yatesboro, Ford City Brew-Thru in Ford City and Armstrong Beer Distributor in Kittanning.

While drug and alcohol commission leaders have partnered with other school districts in the past when available – including recently with the Penns Manor SADD organization in Indiana County – Deputy Director Carrie Bence and Prevention Specialist/ Project Coordinator Jennifer McCroskey thought this was the first time partnering in the effort with West Shamokin’s SADD.

“April is ‘Alcohol Awareness Month,’ so we figured this would be a good time to do it because prom is coming up – just as a reminder for people that are of age that it’s illegal to purchase alcohol for anyone under 21 and it’s also illegal to use a fake ID to try and purchase alcohol,” McCroskey said. “We’ve been doing Sticker Shock throughout both counties for several years now.

“We try not to do it more than once a year though because if people see it all the time, people become complacent and don’t look at it anymore.”

Based on the 2013 PA Youth Survey, underage drinking is still the No. 1 issue facing sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grade students. Organizers are awaiting results of the Fall 2015 anonymous survey.

Local police officers also met and interacted with students at each business as well.

Kittanning Borough Police Chief Bruce Mathews supported the students at Armstrong Beer Distributor.

“We found it to be a very successful and engaging cause,” Chief Mathews said. “Lot of questions (from students) as we were going through about different things they’ve seen and circumstances they’ve faced with some ‘What If’ questions.”

While Chief Mathews said there has been a local decline in underage drinking offenses Kittanning’s Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus closed, officers actively check for violators while investigating noise complaints or large crowds outdoors. Officers also become aware of potential incidents that will occur via social media.

Last week, SADD students also sponsored a mock crash at West Shamokin before County Coroner Brian Myers spoke.