Pregame drinking on cops' radar
By Sean Mulhair
The Collegian
Campus police and law enforcement personnel from other agencies patrol not only the stands but also the tailgating parties at Fresno State football games, checking identification of anyone drinking any alcoholic beverage.
Christine Weldon, district administrator for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said investigators are sent to Fresno State games on the lookout for underage drinking and intoxicated behavior.
Before games, plainclothed officers from the department mingle among fans tailgating on the fields around Bulldog Stadium, asking to see identification of anyone who appears to be an underage drinker.
Anyone caught drinking underage will be issued a finable citation that will be immediately sent to the Fresno District Attorney’s office, Weldon said, and criminal charges may be filed and a background check with juvenile and probation departments may be run.
Weldon said the police presence at Fresno State games keeps the crowd members respectful and under control. Fights have been kept to a minimum and will not be tolerated, she said, and police will take action when necessary.
Campuses without police presence have had intoxicated fans throwing glass bottles at players, Weldon said.
“Police will take action immediately when they see a violation at a game. You will be disciplined,” she said.
Weldon said the alcohol control department is promoted by California’s Department of Education’s “Zero Tolerance” alcohol and drug awareness program. Its main focus is to combat and prevent binge drinking; which she said has fortunately been minimal at Fresno State so far. There have also been no issues of controlled substances at games, she said.
Fresno State spokeswoman Shirley Armbruster said Fresno State receives several state grants for alcohol awareness programs. The Alcohol Advisory Board and the California Highway Patrol are the largest contributors, she said.
The University Police Department declined to comment on the officers patrolling the games and tailgating parties.
Department of Health and Psychological Services administrator Sam Gitchel said drinking is minimal at Fresno State.
He said the campus has one of the lowest alcoholism rates in the nation: Around seven out of 10 Fresno State students do not drink at all, and those who do drink have between one and three drinks when they party, he said.
DUI violations are also very scarce among students, Gitchel said.
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