May 5, 2008 6:01 pm US/Central
New Liquor Item Scoring Big With Teens
Community Leaders Are Telling Parents to Be Aware
(CBS)
Prom season is weeks away for some teenagers, but there is an imminent warning for parents about a new alcoholic drink. CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli explains why Pocket Shots are scoring big with the teen crowd.
It's a shot of alcohol that's advertised as going anywhere with you.
That may be true, because on YouTube CBS 2 found people showing off their pocket shots on snow covered mountains, on skateboards, and even in the car. According to the company's Web site, Pocket Shots are not available in Illinois yet, but that doesn't mean they're not here.
Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow admitted to discovering the item under a table after a local prom.
He says Pocket Shots, portable flasks, are readily available a short drive away in Wisconsin.
"That's most likely where this came from for a prom here in Northern Illinois," he said.
Pocket Shots come in five different varieties including whiskey, rum, vodka, gin and tequila. All are 80 proof. And Glasgow believes all are marketed to people looking to smuggle liquor into a restricted area. And he says one age group is being specifically targeted.
"Who's the one that would really like to get their hands on this? That's teenagers," Glasgow said.
Cherry Powell agrees. She's a prevention coordinator with Education Service Network, a social services agency serving three counties.
"If I could say something to parents, I would tell all parents to beware because we have another enemy," she said. "Every time you look out there, there's something out there trying to get money and at the same time getting our kids. And here it is."
A less than two-ounce enemy that she believes will end up costing lives. That's why she says she'll be working with officials to try to prevent Pocket Shots from setting up shop in Illinois.
But a Pocket Shots spokesperson says they just started selling the product in Illinois.
According to the spokesperson, they do not market to teenagers and their average customer is 35 to 37years old.
Glasgow says he hopes to persuade state lawmakers to make Pocket Shots illegal in the state.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Celebrity Watcher: Real Or Fake?
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
