For some, it also means looking for ways to party - with alcohol.

 

The Sherburne County Substance Use Prevention (SUP) Coalition is working to prevent teens from getting alcohol and possibly ruin their lives in an accident.

The SUP is an organization of community stakeholders dedicated to preventing substance use among youth by promoting safe and healthy choices among all community members. It is comprised of county staff, school leaders, parents, students, law enforcement, media, healthcare, local businesses and religious leaders who have come together for that common purpose. 

 

The group met Wednesday at the Government Center to discuss strategies to prevent alcohol use during prom and graduation season.

 

One of those strategies is the “Sticker Shock” campaign. Now in its fourth season, the campaign invites local liquor retailers in Sherburne County to partner with a group of youth to prevent the underage use of alcohol before prom and graduation season. 

 

Youth and adult participants involved in Sticker Shock placed approximately 2,500 stickers and 2,000 bottle hangers on alcoholic beverages last year with a warning message about the penalties for providing alcohol to anyone under 21.

 

The “Think Twice” stickers convey the message: Providing alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 will cost you up to $3,000 or one year in jail or BOTH!

 

Nine business have taken part in the campaign: Beck’s Pub in Becker; Briggs Lake Liquor in Palmer Twp.; Lake Liquors and SAFE Discount Liquor in Big Lake; Northbound and Westbound Liquor in Elk River; P&A Liquor and Uptown Offsale in Zimmerman; Sand Dunes Spirits in Orrock Township. 

 

During Wednesday’s, meeting, volunteers signed up to contact some of those businesses again about participating this year.

 

Another prevention campaign involves contacting families with a warning about providing alcohol to their teen students.

 

Mark Lees of Health & Human Service (HHS) said for the past few years SUP has been sending a prom letter to schools for them to disperse to parents regarding teen alcohol and drug use. 

 

Lees said the letters have been signed by the school principal, city or township officials and local and county law enforcement officials.

 

He said those signatures make a strong impression about a united community effort to promote safety for teens.

 

SUP members also reviewed the first draft of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) regarding vaping. 

 

Roxanne Schreder from the Sheriff’s Office presented a 5:30 YouTube video designed by Community Blueprint, a marketing agency that helps non-profits and government organizations creat behavior change. The video, called Eight Things You Need To Know About Vaping, is designed to have an impact on anyone using or considering e-cigarettes or other vapor/aerosol-inhaling devices.

 

After the viewing, there was a round-table discussion critiquing the video where everyone had the opportunity to make suggestions about form and content.

Schreder said that input will be sent back to the video developer to incorporate into the final draft, which is expected to be completed in April.