Local Police 'Shake' Things Up at Annual Nonalcoholic Mixers Event

It’s no coincidence local police departments and the health district select a date close to prom night to spread their message about drinking and driving.

The Lake County General Health District and the Lake County Association of Chiefs of Police chose to greet and educate an expected crowd of 300 about the dangers of drinking and driving at their eighth annual Mixers and Shakers Contest.

Mentor police, along with 12 other departments, all came together to promote alcohol-free alternatives to young adults who may be face the decision to drink or not drink.

Police served original recipe nonalcoholic beverages in the hopes that students will serve these drinks instead of alcohol at their prom parties.

But it’s not all fun and games. The message is a serious one. Chris Ivanovics, Mentor schools resource officer, said it’s a serious message that he tries to spread all year.

“Any time you are dealing with juveniles, you want to make sure they’re making the right kind of decisions," he said. "So anything you can do to steer them in the right direction helps them make those good decisions.”

George Willis, supervisor of the Lake County Narcotics Agency’s countywide drug education program, said alcohol remains the number one drug used by teens and young adults.

“It remains a serious problem. It’s so serious, Ohio’s attorney general has joined with 16 other state attorney generals and written a letter to the Pabst Brewing Company because of their Blast beverage.”

The letter he refers to is dated April 21 and posted to the Ohio Attorney General’s website. It calls attention to the colorful can design of Blast beverage, a marketing ploy that Willis  believes is aimed at drawing in a younger crowd.

In the letter it is noted that one 23.5-ounce can of Blast with a 12-percent alcohol contact is equal to 4.7 servings of alcohol.

"They use a brightly colored can, a fruity flavor and a hip-hop personality to promote it. We think that’s just wrong,” Willis said.

In addition to the tasty beverages served by police, the students were also given the opportunity to participate in safety events designed to simulate conditions an impaired driver would face, such as blurred vision, judgment and balance issues.