Loganville and Grayson’s Alcohol Compliance Rate is at 83%!

April 2017 marks the 30th anniversary of Alcohol Awareness Month. First sponsored and celebrated in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), Alcohol Awareness Month was established under the premise of raising awareness about alcoholism and alcohol related issues throughout the community. The month-long commemoration also aims to reduce stigmas associated with alcoholism while highlighting ways we are making progress and assisting those who struggle with alcohol dependency.

Although alcohol awareness is stressed more heavily during the month of April, GUIDE tries to ensure that alcohol and substance abuse prevention is addressed throughout the year. Through initiatives such as the Glass Clings and WE Card campaigns, we provide numerous community members the opportunity to actively monitor and reduce minors’ access to alcohol. GUIDE’s Glass Clings and WE Card campaigns involve working collaboratively with alcohol retailers by placing stickers and posters that notify adults of the consequences and penalties of providing alcohol to minors.

In addition to GUIDE’s Glass Cling and WE Card campaigns, we often work with law enforcement to support their monthly compliance checks. These compliance checks typically entail sending underage decoys into places where alcohol may be sold to and monitoring if the store sales comply with the law and the store does not sell alcohol to the minor. If the underage decoy is successful in purchasing alcohol, an investigator with the local police department issues the employee two citations, one for selling alcohol to a minor and the other for not properly checking IDs. GUIDE hopes that these materials and checks will prompt adults to refrain from purchasing or providing alcohol to anyone under 21 while also reminding employees to always check ID.

GUIDE would like to take the time to recognize and show appreciation to the awesome stores that did not sell alcohol during compliance check sweeps between October 2016 and March 2017. These stores help us to ensure the teens in our community stay safe.

Shell Food Mart, 1417A Grayson Hwy, Grayson

Grayson Food Mart, 2693 Loganville Hwy, Grayson

CVS Pharmacy #4138, 2720 Loganville Hwy, Loganville

Chevron Food Mart, 2705 Loganville Hwy, Loganville

Northeast Citgo, 704 Athens Hwy, Loganville

GUIDE and the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services collaborate with the Gwinnett County Police Department in these prevention activities because we care about young people in our community and want to keep them safe and healthy.

GUIDE is a substance abuse prevention agency serving Gwinnett County since 1986. To find out more about us, please connect with us at guideinc.org.