Local businesses participate in Project Sticker Shock

Youth from Community Planning Groups across Garrett County recently placed 7,221 stickers on cases of beer reminding purchasers of Maryland’s alcohol laws.

Research shows that underage drinking negatively impacts the developing brain, causing many health and safety risks. In Garrett County, most underage drinkers receive alcohol from a person 21 and older, whether a family member, friend or an unrelated adult.

Project Sticker Shock raises awareness about the laws by placing stickers on cases of beer that remind purchasers that both providing alcohol to a minor and purchasing alcohol using a fake ID are illegal. The program encourages collaboration among a variety of community partners, including student leaders and retailers, to reduce underage drinking and its related problems.

“The Accident Community Planning Group, Friendsville Community Watch, Kitzmiller Empowerment Group, Crellin Partnerships, and Club 21550 thank all the businesses that participated in Sticker Shock during the past year,” said Sandy Miller, Prevention Supervisor at the Garrett County Health Department. “Stickers were placed at Hartman’s Liberty Gas Station, Midway Liquors, Browning’s Shop ‘n Save, Hav-A-Lot, Grantsville Liquors, Grantsville Exxon, Cornerstone Grocery, Long Stretch Market, Winners Circle, Swanton Gas and Grocery, Slopeside Market, McHenry Beverage, Zipeez, Arrowhead Grocery and Deli, Friendsville Liquors, and Good to Go (Marathon). We also give a big thank you to all the Garrett County youth that participated in the project.”

For more information about Project Sticker Shock or Maryland’s alcohol laws, call the Health Department at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111.

Pictured above: Garrett County youth visited Slopeside Market in McHenry during Project Sticker Shock, placing stickers on cases of beer to remind purchasers of the laws against providing alcohol to minors.  Pictured in the front row, right to left, are Brooklyn Miner, Katie Olenzock, Angela Olenzock, Breanna Olenzock, Cheyanne Sines, and store owner Matt Sisler. In the back row are Austin Brown, Asa King, Gabriell Blamble, Amber Jaminson, and Torrance Fike.

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department