ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – The Roanoke County Police Department, along with students from several different middle and high schools throughout the county coordinated a campaign called Project Sticker Shock.
The students went to participating stores days before the new year to place stickers on the windows and the stores’ cases of alcohol. The stickers are meant to discourage buying alcohol for those underage or using a fake ID.
“It’s important for us to come out right before the holiday, right before new year,- cause that’s when a lot of people have parties. So at least during that time it’s important. And then it’s also important for us to come out here on our break to show that it is important, and we’re willing to use our own time to spread awareness,” said Camryen Johnson, a 7th grader at Cave Spring Middle and co-president of the school’s prevention club.
Officer Justin Hubbard is the school resource officer at Cave Spring Middle School. He helps run its prevention club. He says these stickers are meant to shock customers:
“They’re putting a sticker on each case of alcohol. So when they come down the aisle it’s like a shock right? It shocks your conscience. What is this? Why are there so many stickers? They go up and they read it and it says, wait this is illegal to purchase? Oh wow it’s a class one misdemeanor, I could spend time in jail? I think that’s what’s important, just giving that shock and awe factor,” said Officer Hubbard.
And, as a father, Officer Hubbard says he knows that alcohol is the substance most abused by young people.
“I think it’s important for the kids to get out in the community and say ‘Hey we have a voice, this is important to us,’ and show the community that it’s illegal to do that,” said Officer Hubbard.
“It makes me feel good to know that we are making an impact, and making people healthier and that we can even save lives if they get in their car under the influence or if something happens to a minor drinking,” said Johnson.
“I think it’s reassuring to know that other people are sharing the message too and it’s not just coming from two people,” said Tinlet Gruse, a 7th grader at Cave Spring Middle and co-president of the school’s prevention club.
Johnson and Gruse said they want to continue to bring awareness to the dangers of underage drinking all year round.