RUMFORD — The River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition will be teaming up with local florists and tuxedo rental shops for the third time in a campaign that attempts to highlight the recent, statewide decline in underage drinking.

The campaign’s theme is “Wow, Times Have Changed,” according to RVHCC project coordinator Sandy Witas.

“We robbed it from the underage drinking prevention group, 21 Reasons from Portland,” Witas explained. “Their company put the whole thing together, and they’re really good about sharing their materials with other groups.”

In a RVHCC news release, Witas explained that the campaign highlights a report from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse, which stated that most of today’s youth do not drink. The release also pointed out that in a 2009 statewide parental phone survey conducted by 21 Reasons, it was found that more parents are taking concrete steps to keep their children from drinking than in previous years.

The campaign will attempt to provide students and parents with this information by distributing “Times Have Changed” cards with each corsage, boutonniere and tuxedo rental.

“The cards have a picture of a guy from the 1970s on the front, all dressed up in a tuxedo,” Witas said. “When you flip the card over, it explains that times have changed from when underage drinking was everywhere. We try to show the difference in underage drinking numbers now compared to the past.”

The release states that statewide drinking rates have followed a downward trend in the past several years.

“Community-wide efforts truly pay off in reducing youth drinking,” Executive Director Patricia Duguay said in the release. “Increased parental monitoring, law enforcement compliance checks, party patrols and greater community disapproval of underage drinking are all making a difference.”

The businesses participating in the campaign are Carlisle’s of Rumford, Davis Florist, The Phoney Florist in Dixfield and Pooh Corner Farm in Bethel.

Witas said that the campaign helps the community recognize the importance of the declines in underage drinking, and also helps parents “recognize the coalition and see us in more places.”

“It lets them know that we’re out there,” Witas said.

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