Youth Action Team Tackles Underage Drinking

Earlier this month The North Reading Community Impact Team’s Youth Action Team completed Sticker Shock, a program designed to curb underage drinking. Drug-Free Communities Grant Director Amy Luckiewicz explained, “This is just one of our multi-tiered strategies to change attitudes and the practice of underage drinking.” She continued, “This program happens across the country in many communities to let people know about the legal consequences to adults who purchase alcohol for youth.”

The Sticker Shock Program is a volunteer program. Each alcohol retailer was invited to participate in advance. During the event, the six-student Sticker Shock Team, accompanied by School Resource Officer Detective Paul Lucci, entered the store and placed brightly colored stickers with a warning message about the penalties of purchasing alcohol for minors on cases of alcohol which are most attractive to youth. Detective Lucci commented, “The students were completely organized and it was great to see their maturity in interactions with the shop owners.” In total, approximately 850 stickers were placed on items across five retailers.

The Youth Action Team would like to thank Ryers, Christopher’s Market, Eastgate Liquors, One Stop Liquors, and Convenience Plus for voluntarily participating in the program. The North Reading Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition would like to congratulate Sam Giunta, Madison Pierce, Brandon DeCleene, Preston Lydotes, Stewart Garniss, and Betsy Lydotes for making this program such a success.