Southside students campaign for change

    Southside YAP (Youth Advocacy Program) members kicked off “Project Sticker Shock” a youth-led initiative to change adult attitudes about selling and providing alcohol to minors. This public awareness campaign was kicked off at retailers in the greater Houlton area during the month of December in conjunction with the holiday season.
Contributed photo
WORKING TOGETHER — Daniel Hermann and his mother, Lisa participated with the Houlton Southside youth advocacy group by attaching colorful stickers to multi-packs of alcohol in local stores. These stickers remind adults of the consequences of providing alcohol to minors.
    The project was sponsored by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse, Healthy Aroostook, SAD 29 Coordinated School Program and the 21st Century After-School Program.
    Local youth from Southside YAP are part of a movement of youth statewide working with participating store to spread “Sticker Shock” waves across Maine in an effort to reach adults who might be tempted to buy alcohol for youth under 21 who can’t buy it legally themselves.
    The youth worked with local retailers to place florescent orange-and-black stickers for all to see on alcohol multi-packs that state the message, “Providing Alcohol to Minors is Illegal! Fines are up to $2,000 and/or up to one year in jail.”
    “Adults need to set a better example for kids,” say the members of Southside YAP. “When adults supply alcohol to youth it sends a very mixed message. Underage drinking is not a teen problem, but a community problem. Adults, youth, law enforcement, and retail stores all need to be part of the solution.”
Contributed photo
TEAM EFFORT — Angela Faulkner assists her daughter, Jade with attaching bright orange stickers to multi-packs of alcohol at local stores to remind adults not to provide the beverage to minors.
    Project Sticker Shock is sponsored by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and funded by a federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The Sticker Shock campaign was first introduced in Maine in February of 2001 by youth in the Fort Kent area who designed the stickers and posters that are now being used in this statewide campaign.
    Southside YAP will be recognizing T & S Market, Andy’s IGA, I-95 Exxon Food Trend, Doc’s Place, Ferris Qwik Stop, and Dow’s Market for participating in project Sticker Shock by presenting them with a certificate that they can display in their store.
    A strong community message against underage drinking is sent when a business takes responsibility for speaking out against underage drinking. Alcohol has been identified as the number one drug of choice among Maine youth, and according to local youth, one of the easiest substances to obtain. The Sticker Shock campaign hopes to make adults think twice before making it any easier for youth to access alcohol.