TOWNSHEND — Events such as proms and graduation are important milestones in a young person's life and cause for celebration. By keeping these special occasions substance-free, the community encourages healthy decision-making by teens and supports safe behaviors that result in positive outcomes for events that everyone remembers and wants to remember.
West River Valley Thrives (WRVT) has been encouraging this through Sticker Shock, a national program in which youth raise public awareness about the cost of providing alcohol to minors by placing stickers on beer, wine coolers, and any other alcohol products that appeal to underage drinkers.
WRVT says the goal of this project “is to discourage adults and older peers (21 or over) from providing alcohol to minors by reminding them about the legal implications if caught. According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results, 70 percent of Windham County highschoolers think it's easy to buy alcohol in stores or get it from their homes.”
Since 2016, WRVT has been coordinating this important activity with students from Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School and local store owners, typically before prom and graduation and again before year-end holidays.
This year, they teamed up with students from Scout BSA Troop 428 and members of Vermont Kids Against Tobacco. Participating stores include River Bend Farm Market (Townshend), Harmonyville Country Store, The Newfane Store, Wardsboro Country Store, and West River Provisions (Jamaica).
At each store, students explained the Sticker Shock program and why it is important, referencing the YRBS data.
While the Scout Troop was participating in Sticker Shock as part of their community service requirements, Scout Master Jennifer Matheson stated “This was more than a community service project. It's not like picking up trash. It gives the scouts a leadership opportunity and ownership over this important issue, to stand up and say it's not okay to provide alcohol to kids.”