Changing Conditions of Alcohol Availability

Taking precautions at special events, limiting container size, controlling alcohol outlet density, and restricting the hours and days of alcohol sales can help reduce the harmful consequences of high-risk drinking, including violence, injury, and adverse health outcomes. Campus and community groups can work together to change the conditions of alcohol availability on campus and in surrounding areas.

On and off campus campus, groups can restrict the availability of alcohol at sporting and recreational events, as well as at special locations such as parks and other publicly owned facilities. Restrictions that can be placed on special events include limitations on operating hours, location of alcohol sales or places of consumption, age of servers, quantity of sales, and size of containers. Event planners can also discontinue alcohol sales before an event is over, while continuing to serve food and soft drinks. Physical aids, such as wristbands or alcohol-free areas, encourage non-drinkers to attend events and discourage sales to minors.

Container size, such as kegs, beer balls, and pitchers, should be limited both on- and off-campus. Special restrictions may be placed on kegs, such as requiring keg registration, prohibiting delivery of kegs on campus, or altogether banning kegs on campus.

Controlling alcohol outlet density and restricting days and hours of alcohol sales also can help decrease high-risk drinking. Campuses and communities can work together to limit the number of alcohol outlets near campus. Decreasing or shifting the hours during which taverns sell alcohol and prohibiting Sunday sales of alcohol at liquor stores are further ways to change the conditions of alcohol availability.