“Parents think that it’s okay to give alcohol to their kids at home,” said Police Chief Kevin Thacker, during a presentation to the City Council. “They think it’s better to give it to them at home than for them to go out and drink. Giving alcohol to minors is a Class B misdemeanor, which means up to $1000 in fines and one year in jail, the same as a DUI.”

With proms and graduations just around the corner, the timing could not be better for a campaign like this. “Parents just need to be involved in their kids’ lives,” said Chief Thacker. While this campaign will lead to a ride in the backseat of a police car, it is more about preventing minors from traveling down a destructive path.

 Sandy is the only city that ParentsEmpowered.org is joining with, and this is the first time in nine years that the organization has partnered with a law enforcement agency; Sandy City garbage trucks will also be wrapped with ads that promote the campaign.

This effort will provide the city with extensive media coverage over the next six months, while the campaign is in effect. It’s also funded by a portion of alcohol sales, meaning that those who purchase alcohol and drink responsibly are also supporting a worthy cause.