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The Virginia ABC recently awarded over $60,000 in Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) Alcohol Education and Prevention grants to various organizations. The VA ABC believes that these grants will assist in preventing high-risk drinking and its negative impacts on communities across the commonwealth. “Virginia ABC’s Community Health and Engagement Division works to eliminate underage and high-risk drinking by building the capacity of community groups to educate individuals and prevent alcohol misuse. We look forward to partnering with these grantees to positively impact the communities they serve.” Here are the grantees for 2025-2026:
By Toby Robertson
Altavista Journal News Correspondent Altavista Police Chief Tommy Merricks says, “In a collaborative effort to combat underage drinking, the Altavista Police Depart partnered with Virginia ABC, the Altavista YMCA, Altavista High School, and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department to bring Project Sticker Shock to the Altavista community on April 9th and 10th.” Project Sticker Shock is a statewide campaign aimed at discouraging adults from providing alcohol to minors and preventing youth from using fake IDs to purchase alcohol. The initiative involved placing bright, eye-catching stickers and window clings on alcohol cases and store windows to remind customers of the serious legal consequences of supplying alcohol to underage individuals. “With spring break approaching and prom season just around the corner, this is an ideal time to raise awareness and remind the community of the risk and responsibilities related to underage drinking,” Merricks. “It’s great we can work together for such a worthwhile project for the community.” The success of Project Sticker Shock relies heavily on collaboration, and Altavista’s efforts reflect a strong partnership between law enforcement, local school, retailers and youth organizations. By working together, these groups are sending a clear message: preventing underage drinking is a shared responsibility. Chief Merricks extends his gratitude to all participating agencies and students for making the project a reality and contributing to a safer community. On Wednesday April 9 and Thursday April 10 students in Haley Wolgamot journalism students visited ABC-licensed retailers along Main Street to place the warning materials. The stickers clearly state the penalties for underage alcohol purchases and fake ID use, including fines and potential jail time. Stores visited were: Apple Market, One Stop Market, CVS, GB, A Mart, KDR, and Express Lane to place stickers on coolers. Wolgamot explains that she got involved with the project after Chief Merricks reached out to the Principal Stefanie Anderson, looking for a group of students to work with to implement Project Sticker Shock. Anderson reached out to Nuntis staff. Project Sticker Shock is an initiative sponsored by the VA ABC Authority to bring awareness of underage alcohol consumption and its adverse effects. Wolgamot’s journalism students embraced this project, several having stories of family members who have been impacted negatively by alcohol, mostly car accidents. She was pleased to see the maturity in which they approached this project. It is her hope that seeing these stickers will deter underage drinking and lead to safe roads and healthier teenagers and young adults. Josiah Monroe, a student at ACS, said he thinks it is important you know that alcohol has a negative effect on our brains and it can become very addictive at an early age because our brains aren’t fully developed. Jayla Elam, another student at ACS said “The stickers are bright so it’s going to catch people’s attention and it’s going to really make them think this can affect their life.” Students helping with the initiative said they hope it makes a difference. Lucinda Davis, owner for 20 years at One Stop Market said she is happy to help spread the word. Davis adds, “You have to check ID’s, because people look older or younger. You can’t tell the age. You’re not only protecting yourself, you’re protecting them and protecting everybody else’s family, because people don’t realize that not only does it hurt themselves, but they could go out there and hurt an innocent person.” Penalties for the violator include a Class 1 misdemeanor, and a maximum penalty for that is 12 months in jail or a $2,500 fine. The person who sells the alcohol, the clerk in the store, could be subject to a Class 1 misdemeanor as well, but the stores are also subject to civil penalties. If they’ve had previous offenses, it could cost them $10,000 for one instance of selling to an underage person. They just want people to know that there are consequences with your actions. The majority of youth do not pay for the alcohol they drink and their most common source of alcohol is an unrelated person age 21 or older. Giving alcohol to youth is called social providing. Underage drinkers may also use fake ID to purchase alcohol. The students want to thank One Stop markets for the food and drinks. SWVAToday
In an effort to eliminate underage and high-risk drinking, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Alcohol Education and Prevention Grant program now through March 1. This is the 10th year Virginia ABC is offering grants to support alcohol education and prevention programs and projects across the commonwealth. Since 2013, Virginia ABC has awarded an average of $80,000 each year through its grant program to Virginia organizations working to prevent underage and high-risk drinking. Organizations are eligible to receive up to $10,000 each to support evidence-based projects that have a long-lasting impact and encourage partnerships between organizations. Community coalitions, law enforcement, nonprofits, schools, government entities, colleges and universities, faith-based organizations and prevention-related groups are encouraged to apply. Proposed projects must address prevention in one or more of the following focus areas:
Applications are available online, with a convenient online platform for submission. Virginia ABC has provided an application guide to assist applicants and provide more information about the program. This grant application guide and the grant application are at www.abc.virginia.gov/education/grants. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on March 1. Enrollment is open for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s (ABC) Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project (YADAPP).
YADAPP is a unique peer leadership opportunity fostering healthy communities and the prevention of substance use. The annual program begins with a kick-off conference July 22-26 at Christopher Newport University in Newport News. Participation requires the registration of a team including four high school student participants and one adult sponsor. During the conference, students attend topical workshops facilitated by peer leaders, hear from well-known motivational speakers, learn peer leadership and prevention best practices and develop Strategies To Act Now (STAN) plans to address substance use among their peers. Teams compete for $250 mini grants to use as seed money for their STAN plan and the $500 Wheeler Award to sustain their continued prevention efforts. Enrollment is open through June 1. A $600 per-team fee includes conference materials, lodging and meals, as well as year-long coaching and support for adult sponsors as they aid their team in implementing its STAN plan throughout the school year. Adult sponsors participate in their own track throughout the opening conference. They receive resources and training on topics that will help them support their team. Adult sponsors are eligible for continuing education units and professional development hours. Law enforcement officers are eligible for partial in-service credits through the Department of Criminal Justice Services. In addition to working on their prevention plans, students can expand their experience as peer leaders by applying for YADAPP youth staff positions and progressing through four levels of leadership with increasing responsibilities. These levels start with the youth leader role acting as a guide for conference participants and build to the top level of serving as conference interns. YADAPP interns are young adults who spend 10 months planning aspects of the program including curriculum development and youth staff training. “Peer-led substance use prevention is a proven-effective path for young leaders to take a stand to create positive change and promote healthy behaviors among youth in the commonwealth,” explained Katie Crumble, Virginia ABC director of Community Health and Engagement. Since its inception in 1984, approximately 450 different high schools and community organizations and more than 12,000 students have participated in YADAPP. For more information and to enroll, visit the YADAPP website. 9/16/2023 Miss Virginia partners with Virginia ABC for school tours promoting healthy choicesRead Now August Free Press - Crystal Graham, Published date:September 16, 2023
Miss Virginia Katie Rose will promote healthy choices and substance use prevention to students in Virginia elementary schools as part of Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s Miss Virginia school tour program. The Miss Virginia Organization and Virginia ABC share the combined goal of educating students about making positive decisions to better prepare for success. Supported by the Virginia ABC community health and engagement mission to prevent high risk and underage alcohol use, Miss Virginia educates elementary school students about the risks of alcohol and other drug use. The tour is funded by a $17,500 ABC grant and features several program options for elementary schools across the state, which can participate in person or virtually live. A George Mason University graduate, Rose earned a law degree from the University of Richmond this year. As Miss Virginia, she plans to also champion her social impact initiative focusing on raising awareness for domestic violence and keeping individuals safe. Rose feels that ABC’s campaign to prevent substance abuse underscores her commitment to improving the lives of children in dangerous circumstances. “I know that I want to encourage and have a platform for every child to make healthy choices for themselves and feel that they have a safe place to come forward if they choose to do so,” said Rose. “Substance abuse prevention efforts must begin in Virginia’s elementary schools.” Since 1953, the Miss Virginia Pageant has provided a platform for young women to advocate for causes and issues important to them. Virginia ABC has a long-standing partnership with the Miss Virginia Organization. Last year’s Miss Virginia, Victoria Chuah, visited 67 elementary schools reaching 18,369 students promoting healthy decision making and leadership through the Miss Virginia school tour program. “Virginia ABC and the Miss Virginia Organization have collaborated to meet students where they are with age-appropriate information about drugs and alcohol to protect them from dangerous behaviors as they grow older,” said Virginia ABC community health and engagement director Katie Crumble. “This early communication sets the stage for a lifetime of promoting health and safety by being informed, approachable and good leaders.” School programsMiss Virginia provides the foundation and encouragement for young students to understand healthy choices and be aware of the harms of substance use. The Miss Virginia school tour messaging aligns with the Virginia Standards of Learning of Advocacy and Health Promotion, Essential Health Concepts and Healthy Decisions focusing on substance use prevention as outlined in the SOLs. In accordance with these standards, two versions of the presentation based on grade level (Kindergarten-first grade and second-fifth grades) are available. Each student who participates in the program receives a copy of Virginia ABC’s educational health and safety activity workbook. The workbook encourages powerful connections when a teacher or caregiver shares the experience of completing the book with a child. Workbooks will be shipped to each school prior to the scheduled visit. Students will:
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