Barbara Sprechman, Mercer Council
5/6/13- If you are purchasing beer in Ewing, you might notice some bright green stickers on your six pack. Four students from Alpha Phi Omega at The College of New Jersey volunteered to affix about 1,500 neon green decals to cases of beer and wine in Ewing liquor stores last week as part of a Sticker Shock campaign.
The stickers warn adults of the penalties involved in buying alcohol for minors – including up to $1,000 in fines and six months in jail. “We are hoping people will notice the stickers and think twice about supplying drinks to their teens or underage friends,” said Barbara Sprechman, Coalition Coordinator for the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County. “We picked this time frame for the campaign because graduation and prom season are almost here.”
The campaign was spearheaded by the coalition, which is an initiative of the Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, Sprechman said. Luis Sanchez, Daniela Powter, Megan Young and Julie Camelotto busily tore off the green decals and decorated the many cases of beer both in the store display cases and in the walk-in coolers in back of the stores. “We are part of a community service fraternity and this kind of project fits in well with our mission to aid the community,” said Sanchez.
Owners of the participating liquor stores, including P&P Liquors, H.K Liquors, Liberty Liquors and High Spirits Liquors said they were pleased to support an initiative that is a timely and important reminder of the law. The campaign will be repeated just before popular drinking holidays such as Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, etc., to continue to remind adults not to purchase for underage youth.
About Mercer Council — Mercer Council is a 501 © (3) non-profit agency dedicated to the prevention of substance abuse. Mercer Council actively provides quality alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention and early intervention services in partnership with individuals, families, schools, communities, businesses and professionals throughout Mercer County. Mercer Council- 609-396-5874.
