Parents reminded to not serve alcohol to minors

WEST CHESTER >> More than a dozen community members stickered cases of beer at the Beer Mill on Chestnut Street to remind adults that it’s against the law to serve alcohol to minors.

The group pasted 1,000 stickers stating, “Parents who host lose the most. Don’t be a party to teenage drinking. It’s against the law.”

The project was promoted by

Loretta Cohen, of West Chester Community that Cares, and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Leigh Ann Ranieri, director of Pupil Services for the West Chester Area School District, said that 30 percent of high school students regularly report drinking alcohol within the past 30 days. She said the program promotes awareness.

“We know the numberone place kids get the alcohol is at home,” Ranieri said. “The beer is next to the milk and it is easily accessible.

“This makes parents think about it.”

West Chester Police Corporal Dave Hammond was stickering cases with Patrolman Teens shouldn’t drink. Jerry Ferriola.

“We’re happy to be doing something other than enforcement,” Hammond said. “Prevention is a good thing too.”

State Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-156, said the program creates positive results.

“To keep our kids safe – fundamentally that’s our job as adults,” Comitta said. “We just need to be aware and be reminded that it is against the law to serve alcohol to anyone under age 21, even in your own home.”

“We are stickering these cases of beer to remind parents there are consequences to serving alcohol to minors – not just legal consequences but potentially damaging consequences for our children, too,” said Mayor Dianne Herrin. “As parents, we don’t want to open the door to future substance abuse or condone alcohol-induced behaviors that can lead to damaging or traumatic incidents for our kids.

“Here in West Chester, we are committed to a healthy community.”

Cohen said that Communities that Care places signs in all three district high schools and also displays the core message on a bill board.

“Power of Parents” was designed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The program empowers parents to stay connected with their kids.

David Argust is the manager at the Beer Mill.

“Just coming in and seeing the stickers reinforces and helps promote not serving alcohol to minors,” he said.

BILL RETTEW - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Community leaders join to fight against underage drinking.

BILL RETTEW - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA West Chester Police Patrolman Jerry Ferriola, left, and Cpl. Dave Hammond have a message for parents.

BILL RETTEW - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Stickers to remind parents to not serve alcohol to minors.

BILL RETTEW - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA