Title
UF Community Alcohol Committee (NB)
Explanation
On August 13, 2001 the City Commission referred this item to the Public Safety Committee to 1) discuss the issue of regulating consumption of large volumes of alcohol and find out if there is an extreme situation and if so, provide some pro-active input to our legislative delegation, and 2) invite the UF Community Alcohol Committee to attend the meeting and offer their input.
The Meetings:
The Public Safety Committee met to discuss this referral on January 17, 2002, February 21, 2002 and March 21, 2002. Attendees included UF staff and members of the UF Community Alcohol Committee, FSU staff and City Commissioner, UF student organizations, Corner Drug Store, Tampa Police Department, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff's Office, bar and restaurant owners/managers, and numerous citizens and students.
The Issues:
Lohse Beeland, Chair of the UF Committee on Alcohol presented their purpose and request. The Committee was formed in response to the 1999 Gainesville Alcohol Abuse Prevention (GAAP) Committee and has been meeting since March 2000 to address alcohol abuse by students as a health and safety issue. Even with their successful efforts in these past two years, their assessments and surveys have shown a need to look at irresponsible drink specials, i.e., cheap drinks that encourage fast and high volume consumption. The UF Committee on Alcohol presented statistics and a proposal to the PSC for assistance in 1) support of regulation of irresponsible drink specials and a review of events such as graduation drinking programs; 2) support of Party Patrol that has a limited grant, for full funding and/or significant support; 3) participation in education via tools such as GRU newsletter and other city promotions; and 4) more diligence in the enforcement of the age 21 drinking laws.
The Review:
During the discussions PSC members heard from numerous interested students, c...
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