EAST BAY — Local students of the East Bay step up to prevent underage drinking in Bristol, East Providence and Warren.

On December 11, students working with the East Bay Regional Coalition will participate in “Sticker Shock” in coordination with the East Providence Prevention Coalition, Warren Prevention Coalition, Bristol Prevention Coalition, and participating liquor stores.

The Sticker Shock campaign in the East Bay is part of an initiative of the East Bay Regional Coalition to bring awareness to local underage drinking, one of the group’s priorities.

“Underage drinking is a serious problem in our communities and we need to take a proactive stance,” Kristen Westmoreland, co-director of the East Bay Regional Coalition, said, “‘Youth in our community are still reporting that adults are purchasing alcohol for them. The Sticker Shock program is important because it makes not only adolescents, but adults and the entire community aware of the consequences of underage drinking.”

Responsible liquor stores are allowing the students to attach stickers to alcoholic beverages and products that appeal to minors, such as beer and hard seltzers.

Youth will also put bottle neck hangers on bottles of alcoholic products throughout the store to discourage adults and peers who are 21 or over from providing alcohol to minors, as well as placing signage such as glass clingers.

Stores will also use new paper bags provided by the East Bay Regional Coalition that sport the same messages as the stickers.

The stickers, bottle hangers and other materials act as “warning” labels to inform the public of the consequences they face for providing or purchasing alcohol for minors.

In addition to addressing underage alcohol use, the Coalition is committed to helping community members be more aware of mental health and how to help someone in distress by hosting various awareness trainings. To sign up for any of these free programs, visit www.eastbaymhat.com.

For more information about the East Bay
Regional Coalition  email at eastbaypfsteven@gmail.com, call (401) 247-1900 ext. 316, or visit us at thebayteam.org.