Westfield Students, Liquor Stores Partner To Target Underage Drinking

WESTFIELD, NJ — Students at Westfield High School and two liquor stores in town are working together to raise awareness surrounding the risks of underage drinking.

The Westfield Youth Peer Leadership Group, House of Wine & Liquor on North Avenue, and ShopRite Wines and Spirits on South Avenue East are participating in project "Sticker Shock."

Along with their advisor, Amy Lewis, Health Educator with the Westfield Regional Health Department, students put stickers on cases and boxes of alcohol in the stores to remind customers about the risks of providing the products to anyone under age 21.

The stickers detailed that if found guilty, customers could face up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.

"The message comes in loud and clear when minors are the ones spreading the word and taking action," Lewis said. "Many are often unaware that they themselves can get into trouble along with the individual that is not of age."

According to the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the average age for Americans to have their first drink is now 11. Around 407,000 underage youth in New Jersey drink annually.

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