New county program targets holiday alcohol abuse
The term “sticker shock” normally suggests consumers’ reaction to inflated prices. But the term has a different meaning this year. District Attorney David Hoovler introduced Project Sticker Shock at a lunchtime press conference on Friday, Nov. 20.
Joining the district attorney near the steps of the Government Center were members of the Prevention Alliance and Orange County Stop DWI.
Together, they explained the program that aims to limit the consumption of alcohol between Thanksgiving and Jan.2.
The Prevention Alliance is made up of local groups that are working to limit alcohol and drug abuse in their communities. Their members, along with county volunteers, will ask retailers to display stickers that emphasize the danger of excessive drinking.
One of the stickers reports that alcohol consumption increases by 69 percent during the end of the year. It starts with Thanksgiving Eve when returning college students frequently meet at local taverns. And it continues with Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties. Holiday indulging leads to tragic accidents and an average of four DWI arrests per day in Orange County.
The pandemic may influence this pattern, because of the limits the state has imposed on the capacity and serving hours for restaurants and bars. The 10 p.m. curfew should have celebrants heading home early. But alcohol consumption has increased since the onset of the corona virus. And District Attorney Hoovler noted another disturbing trend. He said in the past few months several young teens have been hospitalized after drinking too much.
“The holiday season should be a joyous time for all of us,” the district attorney acknowledged. “But, unfortunately, it also happens to be a time when a lot of irresponsible drinking and driving occurs. People celebrate with family and friends. Some people also drink to excess and get behind the wheels of cars.”
If it’s successful, Project Sticker Shock will keep teens and adults from making a bad decision. Lauren Savino (O.C. Stop DWI) and Megan Robbins (Operation Port Jervis Pride) followed Mr. Hoovler at the microphone. They reminded the gathering that (1) impaired drivers can use www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp to get rides home and (2) the need for social distancing is not likely to discourage celebrations.
On an unseasonably warm afternoon, Tom Kennedy added a few words at the end of the conference. He pledged his company’s support for Project Sticker Shock. His firm, Dana Distributors, has a long history of providing courtesy rides on New Year’s Eve.
Retailers who want to participate in the Project, or people who want more information, can contact Megan Robbins of Operation PJ Pride at (845) 856-6344, Ext.1832, or by email to megan.robbins@cccsos.org; or Darlene De Jesus-Rosenwasser at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office at (845) 615-3663 or by email to ddejesus@orangecountygov.com.
