Youth In Action projects are based on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, “Reducing Underage Drinking” report. When used all together, YIA projects can successfully reduce the access of alcohol in your community and create lasting change!

Alcohol Purchase Surveys
A young looking 21-year-old volunteer attempts to purchase alcohol without an ID. No actual purchase is made. It is merely a survey to see if the clerk would have sold alcohol to a presumed minor without ID. Communities are notified about stores that are complying with the law.  Partner with local college, older brother/sister, and do these in association with Compliance Checks.  APS narrow down where to do Compliance Checks, make them more frequently, and produce “survey” information which may be used as a warning or reward letters to retailers, or to gain media attention and awareness of the issue.  Guide available at http://www.youthinaction.org/index.cfm?cID=about&scID=projects.

Compliance Checks
With the help of the local police department, young people act as underage buyers of alcohol. With police, they go into stores and attempt to purchase alcohol. If the clerks do not ask for ID and make the sale, the police may cite or arrest the store clerk.  Application available online at www.abc.ky.gov/enforcement/becomeaninvestigativeaide/.         Must be 18-20.5 years old to do Alcohol, or 15-17 years old to do Tobacco.  Both pay $10.00 per hour.  Mail applications back to Tara McGuire, MADD KY, 649 Charity Court, Frankfort 40601, for better chances of being accepted.

Sticker Shock

YIA teams meet with local retailers that sell alcohol and ask permission to place warning stickers on the packaging of alcohol products (primarily beer). The stickers are very visible and warn of the consequences of purchasing alcohol for people under the age of 21. This project is designed to remind adults that they can be arrested for purchasing alcohol for minors.  ** This project can be creatively extended to work in dry counties.  Contact Tara.McGuire@madd.org for details. Guide at http://www.youthinaction.org/index.cfm?cID=about&scID=projects

Roll Call Briefings
YIA teams set up meetings with their local police departments to make presentations at shift change meetings, known as Roll Call. Two or three YIA members go to the police station with an adult leader to speak to the officers to encourage them to enforce the Zero Tolerance Laws. Many YIA teams have printed cards or notepads to hand out outlining the laws and declaring their support for it. Guide at http://www.youthinaction.org/index.cfm?cID=about&scID=projects

Law Enforcement Special Recognition Program
YIA teams publicly honor local law enforcement officials who are working to prevent underage drinking and impaired driving. This can be done at a formal banquet, media event or at the police station. Some YIA teams have even had food brought to the stations or out to a location where police officers are working on the job. Either way, this is a unique opportunity for teens to thank police officers for doing their job.  Contact Tara.McGuire@madd.org for ways to fit this towards your community.