The Council on Chemical Abuse will observe Alcohol Awareness Month in Berks County throughout April with events and campaigns aimed at preventing unhealthy alcohol consumption, such as underage drinking and driving under the influence.
The emphasis on reducing risky alcohol use, particularly among young people, is important in April, when proms and graduations are on the horizon.
“Young people have a lot to celebrate this time of year, but we want to remind people to keep those celebrations safe. Serving alcohol to teens and driving under the influence can both lead to tragic outcomes,” said COCA Prevention Program Manager Jaclyn Steed. “The focus of every celebration should be on spending time with friends and family, not on alcohol.”
COCA is promoting several alcohol awareness programs during April. Those include an event to foster connections between families and the community; a campaign to remind parents not to serve alcohol to underage youth, and another campaign to encourage the use of designated drivers. Below is a brief description of each of these programs.
Party with a Purpose – Creating Positive Connections: A FREE family event on April 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Holy Cross Church in Reading aimed at reducing the risk of drug and alcohol use among youth by fostering connections between families and the community. Event includes a family meal, activities, presentations, a resource fair, giveaways and more. Registration required. Sign up at cocaberks.org/party.
Parents who Host Lose the Most: A public health media campaign designed by Prevention Action Alliance, reminding parents that it is unsafe, unhealthy, and illegal to provide alcohol to underage youth.
The John R. Elliott Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers: Berks County residents are encouraged to take the HERO pledge, and carry a HERO ID when serving as a designated driver for family and friends, qualifying them for free non-alcoholic beverages at participating Berks County HERO Establishments
For more information about Alcohol Awareness Month and the above programs, visit cocaberks.org/alcoholawareness.
