Aug. 16, 2010
EDITOR’S NOTE: The University ofIowa introduced its “Think Before You Drink” public awareness campaign today with the distribution of the news release below. Fans of the Hawkeyes who purchase season tickets will also receive detailed information about “Think Before You Drink” in the mail in the coming days. Much of that information, however, is presented here.
IOWA CITY, Iowa —Iowa Hawkeye football fans have high hopes for the upcoming football season. To help make the 2010 season a more complete success, the University of Iowa is planning a new initiative aimed at making the game-day experience exciting and safe for all fans.
“Think Before You Drink. Before the Game. During the Game. After the Game” is the message of the new campaign, which seeks to reduce unsafe behavior linked to excessive drinking. It involves a wide range of university offices, in cooperation with community leaders and law enforcement agencies, working together to enforce some new rules and step up enforcement of others.
“Our fans are the nation’s best–they are enthusiastic and respectful of others,” said Gary Barta, director of intercollegiate athletics. “Many of our fans consume alcohol on game days, and they do so responsibly. However, a small minority drink too much and cause problems for themselves and others. To those folks, we say, `Please think before you drink. Don’t put a black eye on the black and gold.'”
The emphasis on safe and responsible alcohol consumption is part of a larger UI and Iowa City effort to move the UI alcohol culture closer to the national norm, says Tom Rocklin, vice president for student services. “Think Before You Drink” comes on the heels of a vote by the Iowa City Council to implement a rule that allows only people over the age of 21 in bars after 10 p.m.
Rocklin explains the scope of the problem by noting that nearly a quarter of UI undergraduates report having suffered physical injury as a result of alcohol use within the past year. That’s one and a half times the national average. But don’t confuse that concern with prohibition, Rocklin insists. “The University of Iowa is not interested in prohibiting the consumption of alcohol on game days. However, we are firmly committed to doing what we can to prevent unsafe and illegal consumption because that contributes to a positive experience for everyone.”
The initiative means that UI Police and other officers will be enforcing some new rules and stepping up enforcement of others:
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages in UI parking lots and ramps will be allowed for only one hour after each game, and all tailgating activities must end two hours after the game. In addition, no after-game consumption of alcohol will be allowed for the Oct. 2 night game against Penn State.
- After the game, police will be emphasizing impaired driving enforcement, which may include vehicle safety checkpoints, increased road patrols, and OWI enforcement teams. The UI encourages all drivers to be safe and sober on their way home.
- Iowa City’s open container ordinance will be strictly enforced. That law prohibits people from carrying open beer, wine and “hard” lemonades on public sidewalks and roads.
- Police will have no tolerance for persons urinating in public.
UI Police will provide a post-game news release and police arrest log as part of a continuing effort to remind fans of the goals of the “Think Before Your Drink” campaign.
“We want all alumni, students, and fans to have a good time,” Rocklin says. “We encourage people who choose to drink to drink responsibly, because the only way we are going to reduce the number of Hawkeye students hurt by their misuse of alcohol is by working together.”
Game days at historic Kinnick Stadium and in the greater Iowa City area are meant to be special and fun.
The overwhelming majority of visitors to the UI campus and Iowa City community enjoy the opportunity to share the game day experience with other friends of the University of Iowa and fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes very responsibly. Many in this group consume alcohol on game days and do so legally and responsibly and within the boundaries established for game days at Kinnick Stadium. And, of course, still others enjoy game days without any alcohol in their tailgating activities.
However, a minority of friends of the UI and fans of the Hawkeyes are not responsible participants in game days at Kinnick. And, too often, the cause of the problem is inappropriate consumption of alcohol.
As you make preparations for what promises to be an exciting seven game days and nights at Kinnick this fall, we ask that you please review closely the following information.
By doing so you will understand that the University of Iowa is firmly committed to legal, safe and responsible consumption because that results in a tremendously positive game day experience for everyone.
To accomplish this goal, we will be fully committed to enforcing existing local and state laws and University policies.
By reviewing the following you will also be fully aware of your responsibilities and, more importantly, the risks you assume before the game, during the game and after the game if you don’t think before you drink.
Go Hawks!
|
The overwhelming majority of visitors to the UI campus and Iowa City community enjoy the opportunity to share the game day experience with other friends of the University of Iowa and fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes very responsibly. Many in this group consume alcohol on game days and do so legally and responsibly and within the boundaries established for game days at Kinnick Stadium. And, of course, still others enjoy game days without any alcohol in their tailgating activities.
However, a minority of friends of the UI and fans of the Hawkeyes are not responsible participants in game days at Kinnick. And, too often, the cause of the problem is inappropriate consumption of alcohol. |
THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK: State laws and Iowa City ordinances
The State of Iowa established law, COI 123.46(2), stating, no hard liquor, identified as “alcoholic liquor” in the Code of Iowa 123.3(5), can be consumed in any public place except premises covered by a liquor control license.
The City of Iowa City established ordinance, ICC 4-5-3(A.), prohibiting the consumption of any alcoholic beverages on any public street, ground, highway, sidewalk, alley, or public right of way in the City, except if the person has purchased the alcoholic beverage from an “authorized entity,” and is on an “authorized site.”
Individuals who are caught in possession of alcohol or are too intoxicated will be ejected from the stadium by security personnel. In cases of extreme intoxication, law enforcement officers will arrest the individual for Public Intoxication and/or Possession of Alcohol Under the Legal Age. Students found in possession of alcohol or in violation of policies contained in the University of Iowa Code of Student Life in or around Kinnick Stadium will be subject to judicial procedures administered by the Office of the Dean of Students. A student ticket holder found responsible for violating the Code of Student Life at the stadium may be restricted from attending future games.
THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK: Before the Game
Consumption of alcohol by persons underage is illegal and unsafe.
Law enforcement staff will stop anyone who appears to be underage and who is in possession of alcoholic beverages. If they are found to be underage, they will be issued a citation for “PAULA” – possession of alcohol under the legal age. If the individual is a UI student, they may be restricted from attending future games if found in violation of the UI Code of Student Life. If the individual is not a UI student and is a season ticket holder, they will lose their season ticket privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season.
The open container ordinance for Iowa City will be strictly enforced.
Individuals walking/driving to University property on public sidewalks/roads with visible, open beer, wine, hard lemonade, alcohol containers will be subject to citation.
“Open bars” where fans are engaged in unsafe or dangerous behavior.
Any temporary or permanent structure or activity resembling the distribution of alcohol similar to that found in a bar or tavern, kegs of any size, drinking games requiring rapid or large amounts of alcohol, beer bongs or consumption in amounts obviously egregious or unusual is subject to intervention. Season ticket holders who receive a citation for an open bar will lose their season ticket and, possibly, parking privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season.
Public intoxication and public urination is not acceptable.
Law enforcement officials will look for probable cause – public urination, inability to stand or walk, combative or disruptive or destructive behavior – when considering a citation for public intoxication. Season ticket holders who receive a citation for public intoxication will lose their season ticket and, possibly, parking privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season. Law enforcement officials will also have no tolerance for persons urinating in public.
THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK: During the Game
Inside historic Kinnick Stadium…
Consumption of alcohol inside historic Kinnick Stadium is impermissible.
Law enforcement staff will stop anyone who appears to be underage and who is in possession of alcoholic beverages. If they are found to be underage, they will be issued a citation for “PAULA” – possession of alcohol under the legal age. If the individual is a UI student, they may be restricted from attending future games if found in violation of the UI Code of Student Life. For those individuals who are not UI students and are season ticket holders, they will lose their season ticket privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season.
Consumption of alcohol by persons underage is illegal, unsafe and impermissible inside historic Kinnick Stadium.
Law enforcement staff will stop anyone who appears to be underage and who is in possession of alcoholic beverages. If they are found to be underage, they will be issued a citation for “PAULA” – possession of alcohol under the legal age. If the individual is a UI student, they may be restricted from attending future games if found in violation of the UI Code of Student Life. If the individual is not a UI student and is a season ticket holder, they will lose their season ticket privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season.
IMPORTANT: Season ticket customers are responsible for the actions of fans to whom they give or sell their game tickets. Two offenses (“PAULA,” public intoxication, or an open bar) by their guests/customers in the same season may result in the loss of the ability to purchase season tickets and parking privileges by the season ticket customer.
Outside historic Kinnick Stadium…
Consumption of alcohol by persons underage is illegal and unsafe.
Law enforcement staff will stop anyone who appears to be underage and who is in possession of alcoholic beverages. If they are found to be underage, they will be issued a citation for “PAULA” – possession of alcohol under the legal age. If the individual is a UI student, they may be restricted from attending future games if found in violation of the UI Code of Student Life. If the individual is not a UI student and is a season ticket holder, they will lose their season ticket privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season.
The open container ordinance for Iowa City will be strictly enforced.
Individuals walking/driving to University property on public sidewalks/roads with visible open beer, wine, hard lemonade, alcohol containers will be subject to citation.
“Open bars” where fans are engaged in unsafe or dangerous behavior.
Any temporary or permanent structure or activity resembling the distribution of alcohol similar to that found in a bar or tavern, kegs of any size, drinking games requiring rapid or large amounts of alcohol, beer bongs or consumption in amounts obviously egregious or unusual is subject to intervention. Season ticket holders who violate this policy will lose their season ticket and, possibly, parking privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season.
Public intoxication and public urination is not acceptable.
Law enforcement official will look for probable cause – public urination, inability to stand or walk, combative or disruptive or destructive behavior. Law enforcement officials will also have no tolerance for fans urinating in public.
THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK: After the Game
Post-game celebrations are limited.
Consumption of alcohol is permissible in University parking lots for the first hour after the end of the game except for the night game against Penn State when consumption is not permissible for any length of time. Fans are required to leave University parking lots two hours after the end of each home game.
Vehicle safety checkpoints will be in operation.
In an effort to eliminate the number of impaired vehicle operators and/or passengers of vehicles leaving Kinnick Stadium with open containers of alcohol, law enforcement officials will be stationed at various locations and will randomly select vehicles for overall safety checks.
Consumption of alcohol by persons underage is illegal and unsafe.
Law enforcement staff will stop anyone who appears to be underage and who is in possession of alcoholic beverages. If they are found to be underage, they will be issued a citation for “PAULA” – possession of alcohol under the legal age. If the individual is a UI student, they may be restricted from attending future games if found in violation of the UI Code of Student Life. If the individual is not a UI student and is a season ticket holder, they will lose their season ticket privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season.
The open container ordinance for Iowa City will be strictly enforced.
Individuals walking/driving to University property on public sidewalks/roads with visible open beer, wine, hard lemonade, alcohol containers will be subject to citation.
“Open bars” where fans are engaged in unsafe or dangerous behavior.
Any temporary or permanent structure or activity resembling the distribution of alcohol similar to that found in a bar or tavern, kegs of any size, drinking games requiring rapid or large amounts of alcohol, beer bongs or consumption in amounts obviously egregious or unusual is subject to intervention. Season ticket holders who violate this policy will lose their season ticket and, possibly, parking privileges for at least the remainder of the 2010 season.
Public intoxication and public urination in not acceptable.
Law enforcement official will look for probable cause – public urination, inability to stand or walk, combative or disruptive or destructive behavior. Law enforcement officials will also have no tolerance for fans urinating in public.