HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials are opening the door to a new round of grants aimed at cracking down on underage and dangerous drinking, putting fresh funding behind local prevention, education, and enforcement efforts across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced it is now accepting applications for its Reducing Underage and Dangerous Drinking grants, a long-running program that supports initiatives promoting responsible alcohol consumption and deterring illegal and risky behavior.
Eligible applicants include public school districts, colleges and universities, technical and trade schools, community organizations, municipal police departments, local governments, and both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Only one application per organization, municipality, or institution will be accepted.
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Friday, March 20. Grant guidelines and the application portal are available on the PLCB’s website at https://www.pa.gov/services/lcb/apply-for-an-alcohol-education-grant.
The upcoming grant cycle covers a two-year period from July 2026 through June 2028. Awards will be made on a competitive basis, with funding capped at $25,000 per year and a maximum of $50,000 over the full two-year cycle for each recipient. All applications will be reviewed by the PLCB’s Bureau of Alcohol Education, with final awards contingent on available funding.
Since the program’s launch in 1999, the PLCB has awarded nearly $25 million in RUDD grants statewide. Past projects funded through the program have included expanded underage drinking patrols, targeted law enforcement initiatives, parent-focused prevention campaigns such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Power of Parents, college alcohol assessment surveys, and peer education and training programs.
Beyond the grant program, the PLCB said it supports prevention and education efforts year-round through a range of initiatives, including Responsible Alcohol Management Program training for licensees, statewide alcohol education conferences, technical assistance for law enforcement and community groups, and the distribution of prevention materials for parents, educators, and youth organizations.
Those efforts recently earned statewide recognition, with the Bureau of Alcohol Education receiving the Mary Ann Bowman Prevention Award from the Pennsylvania DUI Association for its work promoting prevention, responsibility, and community safety.
State officials say the latest grant round is intended to strengthen local partnerships and reinforce prevention strategies as communities continue to confront the public safety and health impacts of underage and irresponsible alcohol consumption.
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