Partnering for Project Sticker Shock

The Sheriff’s Office was proud to partner once again with the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria for Project Sticker Shock, an educational campaign to remind adults about the dangers and consequences of buying alcohol for anyone under 21.

On Saturday, October 27, Sheriff Dana Lawhorne and Deputy Valarie Wright attended the kickoff press conference emceed by T.C. Williams students Nancy Martinez and Diamond Harris outside the Alexandria Community Services Board offices. Audience members heard from the students, Mayor William D. Euille, Police Captain Tammy Hooper and MADD Victim Advocate Debbie Sausville, whose teenaged stepdaughter was killed in a crash after drinking and driving.

Following the press conference, Deputy Wright and other adults accompanied T.C. Williams students to 60 stores throughout Alexandria so they could place "STOP" stickers on multi-packs of alcohol, reminding adults it’s illegal to purchase alcohol anyone underage. With cooperation from store managers, the volunteers stickered hundreds of packs of beer, wine coolers and other alcoholic drinks. They also applied decals at the entrances of stores to alert customers who might be considering purchasing alcohol for anyone underage.

Virginia ABC and the City’s Police, Recreation, Community and Human Services departments also participated in this year’s campaign. To learn more about the risks of underage drinking, visit SAPCA's site and Virginia ABC's Project Sticker Shock page.

Community Relations Deputy Valarie Wright escorted three 10^th graders from T.C. Williams to neighborhood markets, convenience stores, drug stores and supermarkets to place stickers on multi-packs of alcohol.