PLCB Awards Alcohol Education Grants

Understanding the importance of supporting local alcohol education efforts, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) announced the recipients of the 2011-2012 Alcohol Education Grant program.

In all, 77 organizations throughout the state will receive awards, totaling more than one million dollars, including several in Bucks and Montgomery counties.

“As a partner in the effort to prevent underage, binge and problematic drinking, we provide funds to local organizations committed to making a significant difference in their community,” said Patrick J. “PJ” Stapleton III, PLCB chairman. “At a time when public funds are stretched thinner than ever, we know these grant awards will go a long way towards improving the health and safety of communities across the commonwealth.”

Here are some local grant recipients:

Bucks
justCommunity, Inc., $14,999.49
New Britain Borough, $14,388.00

Montgomery
Gwynedd Mercy College, $14,229.67
North Wales Borough, $14,889.96
Plymouth Township, $15,000.00
Rosemont College, $15,000.00
Whitemarsh Township, $15,000.00

PLCB grants help fund prevention programs focused on underage and college-age alcohol consumption as well as law-enforcement activities. Since 1999, the PLCB has awarded more than $7 million in competitive grants to hundreds of community groups.

“Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among young people, according to a recent study released by the Centers for Disease Control,” said Jerry Waters Sr., director of the PLCB’s office of regulatory affairs. “We know underage drinking has a tremendous impact on youth, families and communities throughout Pennsylvania, and we are committed to providing the resources necessary to help children make better choices.

Of the grants awarded:

• 27 will fund community law-enforcement efforts
• 19 will be used to support mentoring programs, LifeSkills training and alcohol education campaigns aimed at preventing underage alcohol use
• 5 will go to local school districts for “Parents Who Host, Lose The Most” campaigns and the PA Youth Survey, which collects information from students in the 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades about the behaviors, attitudes and knowledge concerning alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence
• 26 college and university grants will help schools develop strategies to eliminate underage and dangerous alcohol use including enforcement efforts; social norms campaigns to change how students think about alcohol and binge drinking; Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), which is a program to help those students who drink heavily make less risky alcohol use decisions; training activities; and college alcohol risk assessments of the campus and surrounding areas to identify alcohol-related issues.

The Liquor Control Board grants will also support a range of initiatives that include law-enforcement training, community and teen outreach and other education programs.