Sticker Co
Sticker Co

Akwesasne Stores Help Promote “Project Sticker Shock”

May 14, 2021

AKWESASNE — Have you visited any of Akwesasne’s convenience stores lately? If so, you may have noticed stickers attached to a variety of products that contain alcohol. These are part of Project Sticker Shock, which is designed to reach adults who might purchase alcohol legally, but may provide it illegally to minors.

Much of this prevention project involves community members joining together to create a safer and healthier lifestyle for our youth. More importantly, this is a youth-driven initiative geared to help their fellow youth. It is aimed at reducing underage drinking and its related problems by reducing youth access to alcohol.

Some adults do not perceive youth consumption of alcohol as a danger — feeling a sense of relief that “it’s only alcohol” and not a “real” drug. This is wrong, as alcohol remains the substance most abused by youth. According to a 2019 Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, youth report having a drink of alcohol as early as 12-years old, which is putting themselves at greater risk for alcohol problems later in life.

In a SRMT Alcohol/Chemical Dependency Program (A/CDP) Youth Survey conducted in 2019, teenagers stated they know how to get alcohol. Whether they obtain it from friends, siblings, parents, unlocked liquor cabinets, or licensed alcohol beverage establishments; nearly 79 percent of middle and high school youth say it is easy to get alcohol.

Underage drinking is an alarming community concern and the most effective way to address it is through community involvement and participation. As a result, the A/CDP Prevention Program and the Akwesasne Youth Coalition would like to thank the following local businesses for their participation in Project Sticker Shock:

  • Akwesasne Mini Mart
  • Bears Den
  • Beverage Cellar
  • Big Boys
  • Crossroads
  • East End
  • JS Enterprise
  • Red Fox
  • Smokers Warehouse
  • Speedway
  • Truckstop #9
  • Twinleaf

For more information on how you can help prevent underage drinking, please contact Saint Regis Mohawk Health Service’s Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency Prevention Program at (518) 358-2967.

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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People.