While the numbers of students at downtown bars was lower during the summer, talk about downtown drinking increased.

At the Community /Campus Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse meeting in July, members of the committee discussed eliminating late-night happy hours and drinking specials in bars.

Commission members also talked about stopping alcohol license holders who were caught illegally serving alcohol from reorganizing their businesses. Committee members are concerned that these bar owners were structuring their businesses under another name and continuing to serve alcohol after violating the law.

The commission also discussed requiring background checks, training and special identification for bouncers and servers.

These rules still must be passed by the county Legislative Review Committee, the county commission and the mayor.

As the local government proposes new rules for drinkers downtown, it is important to recall the updates to the University’s alcohol policy.

At the end of the spring semester, the University Cabinet updated and clarified the policy.

The University Cabinet made these changes:

 The Office of Judicial Programs will give special consideration to a student seeking medical assistance while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 The Office of Judicial Programs will give special consideration for students seeking medical help for another student under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

These changes followed discussions between the administration and the Student Government Association. While originally called the Medical Amnesty Policy, the name of the procedures was changed to the Responsible Action Protocol.

These were the clarifications the University Cabinet made:

 The first violation for a student caught possessing alcohol will result in a mandatory alcohol and drug awareness class and a six-month probation sentence. The probation begins the date the case is resolved.

 The first violation for a student found consuming, using or distributing and possessing alcohol or drugs will result in a mandatory alcohol and drug awareness class. The violator will serve a 12-month probation, beginning the date of case resolution.

 A student referred to the Office of Judicial Programs for additional violations will face suspension for the current semester and one following semester. Summer suspension will be included if violation occurs in spring semester and will not be substituted for fall or spring semester probations.