Grafton Teens Use Stickers To Battle Underage Drinking

GRAFTON, MA — Grafton teens teamed up with police to combat underage drinking and their new tool of choice is a unique one — stickers. The "Project Sticker Shock" initiative aims to educate alcohol retailers and youth about underage drinking, an issue police say has grown in Grafton.

The initiative started on Nov. 26, a day before the biggest drinking day of the year, Thanksgiving eve. Youth Leaders from Family & Community Leaders, FCL, along with School Resource Officer Mark Alves teamed up to spread "Sticker Shock" waves throughout Grafton by placing stickers on cases of beer. The sticker reads, "Providing alcohol to anyone under 21 is a serious crime — the penalty is up to a year in jail and a $2000 fine."

Grafton police said alcohol has been identified as the number one drug of choice among youth, "According to our youth, (alcohol is) one of the easiest to get," the department published in a Facebook post.

FCL members Alex Abram, Skylar Campanale and Mackenzie Hanna worked with three liquor stores in town: Grafton Liquors, Five Star Liquors and Valley Plaza Discount Liquors.

Project sticker shock is a state-wide youth initiative underwritten by Coalition for a Healthy Grafton, to educate the public and change attitudes about selling and serving alcohol to anyone under 21. The stickers with shocking yellow and black colors stand out on the beer cases for all to see.