Substance abuse program honors businesses that curb teen
drinking
A group of teens and county employees gathered at the Valero gas
station Circle A Food Store on July 22 to recognize five local
merchants who are going above and beyond with keeping alcohol out
of the hands of teenagers.
Substance abuse program honors businesses that curb teen drinking
A group of teens and county employees gathered at the Valero gas station Circle A Food Store on July 22 to recognize five local merchants who are going above and beyond with keeping alcohol out of the hands of teenagers.
For the first year, the San Benito County Substance Abuse staff organized the Responsible Alcohol Merchant Awards with money from a Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol grant. The three-year grant, which the county staff has stretched to allow a fourth year of funding, allowed the staff to request nominations from the community for businesses that deter teens from getting access to drinks.
“We did a survey and found that 17 percent of teens said they can obtain alcohol very easily,” said Chris Urzua, a substance abuse counselor. “And many said they could get it through stores.”
Working with a group of teen volunteers from local high schools, the staff members trained the kids to go into stores to see if they stores were in compliance with alcohol laws. The kids were trained on such laws as the requirement to post a notice that the store IDs patrons who want to purchase alcohol. The students also interviewed store managers about what type of training they offer to employees and they visited stores to see where alcohol advertisements were placed or how alcohol is stored in coolers.
The five businesses selected for the first RAMA awards were merchants who have multiple signs notifying about the need to ID, who offered extensive training on how to check ID for employees, and who kept beer away from soda, juice or other legal beverages.
The local businesses to be recognized this year included Circle A Food Store, Windmill Market, in San
Juan Bautista, Ranch Milk, the Quik Stop on San Felipe and the Quik Stop on San Juan Road.
“Thanks for coming and buying here,” said Sayed Faquiryan, the owner of Circle A Food Store. “Thanks to all my employees who are on board. Without their help, we couldn’t get this (award.)”
One of the students spoke about his experience interviewing store owners and visiting the merchants.
“I felt some stores didn’t really focus on keeping kids from drinking,” he said. “They kept the kids’ drinks right next to the beer. At some stores, it was further away.”
At the awards ceremony two of the merchants showed up to receive a certificate that will be displayed in their windows. They also received a larger banner that notifies customers that they won the 2011 Responsible Alcohol Merchant Award.
One of the key components of the CMCA grant is that the staff works with teen volunteers.
“The youth did all the surveys,” said Renee Hankla, the substance abuse program manager. “They did paper surveys and one-on-one surveys asking about policies and efforts made to reduce (teen drinking.)”
Hankla said that merchants surveyed, which included more than the stores nominated, where offered advice on improvements that could be made such as moving alcohol advertising out of the sight line of children. She said for the next year her staff will offer employee training to merchants who are interested in taking advantage of it.
The staff members plan to hold the Responsible Alcohol Merchant Awards again next year by asking for nominations from the community.
