Safe and Sober Summer Campaign Kick-Off

NCPC has launched an underage drinking prevention and social host enforcement campaign this summer. The Safe and Sober Summer Campaign consists of various efforts to help remind and alert the Tri-City region community about the consequences of allowing underage drinking. The three strategies utilized for this campaign are advertisements on the North County Transit District (NCTD) buses; banners with a prevention message; and mini-grant awards, to the Tri-City law enforcement agencies, of $2,000 to help promote and utilize Social Host Ordinances in the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Vista.

Based on local community surveys and focus groups with both youth and adults, and surveys collected from local law enforcement agencies, house parties are a primary source of alcohol for teens, and a primary location where teen drinking occurs.  

The advertisements on the NCTD buses have bilingual messages in Spanish and are traveling the region in eight different buses saying that “Allowing UNDERAGE DRINKING in your party is AGAINST THE LAW!” The banner, has been posted in the heart of the city of Vista with a prevention message, also bilingual, that says “Providing ALCOHOL to MINORS is Against the Law!” The mini-grants will assist law enforcement agencies enforce social host ordinances to create more public awareness and the dangers of underage drinking.

The funding for this effort is part of Vista Community Clinic’s STOP Act grant from SAMHSA/Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. The purpose of the STOP Act (Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking) is to prevent and reduce underage drinking in communities throughout the United States.

Hayne Palmour IV. (2010, June 7). Promoting a safe summer. North County Times, Local B-3.

Michael Burge. (2010, June 10). Police backs ads battling underage drinking. Union Tribune, Our North County .

América Barceló. (2010, June 11). Jóvenes sobrios. El Latino, Page 10.