By Lisa Griffith
It is finally spring here in Central New York and that means summer and summer celebrations are just around the corner. With nice weather comes Prom, high school graduations, college graduations, weddings and numerous other events, most of which may include drinking. In the past two weeks several local pizza shops located in college towns in Madison County participated in a “Sticker Shock” campaign to deter drinking and driving. Participating shops partnered with the Madison County STOP DWI Program, under the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with BRiDGES the Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc.
In Hamilton, Oliveri’s Pizza, VJ’s and Pizza Hut, in Morrisville, New York Pizzeria and in Cazenovia, Owahgena Pizzeria and Caz Pizza placed stickers, which read, “Have a plan. Walk. Ride. Carpool. Call a Cab. Don’t Drive. Get a Ride.” on their pizza boxes in an effort to deter those people who may be drinking and driving. Drinking and driving kills thousands of people each year. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in 2012, 344 people died from drinking and driving in New York State alone. This is a reminder that no matter what time of year it is; if you drink please don’t drive.
“Sticker Shock” is a project that aims to reduce alcohol and impaired driving-related traffic injuries and fatalities through the coordination of county, town, city and village efforts. Thank you to Oliveri’s Pizzeria, Pizza Hut and VJ’s in Hamilton, Caz Pizza and Owahgena Pizzeria in Cazenovia and New York Pizzeria in Morrisville for their support and willingness to help with this project and to prevent drinking and driving in Madison County.
Lisa Griffith is an Intern at BRiDGES-MCCASA