Youth Action Team Surveys Local Stores

(Moses Lake) The Moses Lake Youth Action Team finds local stores in our area still have a significant amount of alcohol and tobacco advertising. This is based on information the group collected while conducting a Community Assessment of Neighborhood Stores (CANS).

During the month of May, the youth involved with the Moses Lake Youth Action Team have been surveying stores as part of the statewide effort to prevent underage alcohol use. In Moses Lake there are 34 retailers that sell alcohol. Of the ten that were surveyed, we found that:

• • 8 out of 10 stores had youth friendly places that could be seen from the store property.
• • Only 1 store included community prevention awareness signage.
• • There are an increased number of stores that are advertising the Cannabis Energy Drink.
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“We know that alcohol advertising encourage youth to drink” (said Carolyn Pence, Moses Lake Community Prevention Coalition coordinator. “A 2006 study found that the more alcohol ads young people see, the more likely they are to drink. Visiting these stores gives us much needed information about our community and what we can do to support youth in making healthy choices and avoiding alcohol.”

The stores were surveyed as part of a statewide campaign to engage adults and youth in taking action to reduce underage drinking. The campaign, entitled Let’s Draw the Line Between Youth and Alcohol is sponsored by the Washington State Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking. The CANS is a simple, two-page form that community groups can use to gauge the availability of and marketing of alcohol and tobacco at local stores. The form also collects information about the healthy foods.

One of the students involved in the survey commented on the quantity of alcohol advertising signage she saw within a store. “I found it interesting that a gas station had 125 things to advertise about alcohol.”

“We’re drawing the line because alcohol is especially harmful to the still-developing teen brain” said Carolyn Pence. “Teens who drink are more likely to experience school failure, assaults, unprotected sex, alcohol poisoning and car crashes. They are also more likely to develop alcohol problems, compared to those who wait until they are 21 to drink.”

For more information about the Let’s Draw the Line campaign, email LDTL@dshs.wa.gov. For questions about the CANS survey, contact Paul Davis at Paul.Davis@doh.wa.gov. Information and tips for parents for preventing underage drinking can be found at www.StartTalkingNow.org.

For information about joining the Moses Lake Community Prevention Coalition, contact Carolyn Pence at 509-765-5402.