YADAPP creates peer leaders who are role models in the prevention of underage and dangerous drinking .

students , so it ’ s evolved to be that program now ,” Weaks says . “ She travels to elementary schools across Virginia throughout the year , and she does assemblies – sometimes with the entire school , sometimes with specific student groups , with teachers or with parents . She talks about her platform in partnership with our messaging of healthy decisions , what a trusted adult is , what harmful substances are in an age-appropriate way , and really talks to the students .”

One of the agency ’ s newest programs is HEADS UP , which is targeted at the university crowd . After a soft launch last year , the program is fully launching this school year .

Virginia ABC aims to be a resource for Virginia universities with HEADS UP , which includes funding through its grant program , trainings for alcohol education and responsible serving , activities and toolkits , and ready-made workshops for peer educators or prevention offices on campus .

“ The purpose is to just be a resource to fill the gaps where universities might not have staffing or resources , whether curriculum or finances to provide alcohol prevention on their campus ,” Weaks says . “ We want to be accessible to all private , public , four-year and two-year institutions . We ’ re hoping that this eases the workload of the faculty and staff that are on those campuses , and also increases the impact that they ’ re able to have with individual students .”

The department ’ s alcohol education and prevention grants were designed in 2013 to fill the gap left by the discontinuation of federal grants . Previously , those grants were offered through the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention , and Vir- ginia ABC acted as a pass-through where organizations applied and money was allocated .

Previous applicants have included schools or school districts , community coalitions and nonprofits , faith-based organizations and local jurisdictions . Every year a wide range of education opportunities are produced , with the only criteria being that the grant program addresses underage prevention of alcohol use and high-risk drinking .

“[ Grantees ] have done things like evidence-based life skills training for underage students . They have done compliance tracks with their local licensees . They have done checkpoints and saturation patrols with their law enforcement ,” Weaks says . “ There have been many media campaigns – billboards , print , social and even some television PSAs .”

There is no reason for a party to end in dangerous intoxicated behavior . The

BY KYLE

SWARTZ Oregon Liquor Control Commission stresses this through its year-round social-responsibility campaigns .

The OLCC uses bus ads and other media to promote its safe hosting messages .

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