This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Neighbor News

Unincorporated Lawrenceville’s Alcohol Compliance Rate is at 78%!

The Gwinnett County Police Department Oct. 2016-March 2017 compliance check results are in for Unincorporated Lawrenceville.

April 2017 marks the 30th anniversary of Alcohol Awareness Month. First sponsored and celebrated in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), Alcohol Awareness Month was established under the premise of raising awareness about alcoholism and alcohol related issues throughout the community. The month-long commemoration also aims to reduce stigmas associated with alcoholism while highlighting ways we are making progress and assisting those who struggle with alcohol dependency

Although alcohol awareness is stressed more heavily during the month of April, GUIDE tries to ensure that alcohol and substance abuse prevention is addressed throughout the year. Through initiatives such as the Glass Clings and WE Card campaigns, we provide numerous community members the opportunity to actively monitor and reduce minors’ access to alcohol. GUIDE’s Glass Clings and WE Card campaigns involve working collaboratively with alcohol retailers by placing stickers and posters that notify adults of the consequences and penalties of providing alcohol to minors.

In addition to GUIDE’s Glass Cling and WE Card campaigns, we often work with law enforcement to support their monthly compliance checks. These compliance checks typically entail sending underage decoys into places where alcohol may be sold to and monitoring if the store sales comply with the law and the store does not sell alcohol to the minor. If the underage decoy is successful in purchasing alcohol, an investigator with the local police department issues the employee two citations, one for selling alcohol to a minor and the other for not properly checking IDs. GUIDE hopes that these materials and checks will prompt adults to refrain from purchasing or providing alcohol to anyone under 21 while also reminding employees to always check ID.

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

GUIDE would like to take the time to recognize and show appreciation to the awesome stores that did not sell alcohol during compliance check sweeps between October 2016 and March 2017. These stores help us to ensure the teens in our community stay safe.

Aldi #67, 1225 Scenic Hwy, Lawrenceville

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Shell Food Mart, 1555 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville

Shell Food Mart, 1095 Duluth Hwy, Lawrenceville

Walgreens, 1065 Duluth Hwy, Lawrenceville

Stop & Shop, 1495 Duluth Hwy, Lawrenceville

Quick Mart, 3522 Club Dr, Lawrenceville

Texaco Food Mart, 2815 Club Dr, Lawrenceville

Discovery Shell, 1904 Duluth Hwy, Lawrenceville

QuickTrip, 1094 Duluth Hwy, Lawrenceville

Oakland Food Mart, 901 Oakland Rd, Lawrenceville

Texaco Food Mart, 2074 Old Norcross Rd, Lawrenceville

Empire State Pizza & Dogs, 2948 Five Forks Trickum Rd, Lawrenceville

Milk N Stuff, 2948 Five Forks Trickum Rd, Lawrenceville

Rite-Aid, 2979 Five Forks Trickum Rd, Lawrenceville

Aldi #67, 1225 Scenic Hwy, Lawrenceville

Neighbors Market, 4735 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville

Ruby's Food Mart, 4785 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville

Sunoco, 2490 Cruse Road, Lawrenceville

St. Marlowe's Store, 2346 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville

Food Mart, 2411 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville

Walgreens #05896, 1556 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville

Chevron Food Mart, 3334 Langley Rd, Lawrenceville

CVS Pharmacy #4730, 1187 Grayson Hwy, Lawrenceville

RaceTrac, 1385 Grayson Hwy, Lawrenceville

GUIDE and the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services collaborate with the Gwinnett County Police Department in these prevention activities because we care about young people in our community and want to keep them safe and healthy.

GUIDE is a substance abuse prevention agency serving Gwinnett County since 1986. To find out more about us, please connect with us at guideinc.org.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?