EAST STROUDSBURG - College students and community members are noticing the presence of efforts by the Stroud Area Regional Police Department and East Stroudsburg University to combat dangerous and illegal underage drinking.  Increased enforcement targeting underage drinking and the creation of a campus–community coalition are among the new efforts being made to facilitate the reduction of the harmful and destructive consequences of underage drinking.

As part of a new initiative in an attempt to preempt alcohol related problems in areas near colleges and universities, officers with the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement and the Stroud Area Regional Police Dept. will be conducting various enforcement activities associated with the “Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws” program.

Recently an “Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws” operation was conducted in the East Stroudsburg University area, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co. with the Stroud Area Regional Police Department.  Nine licensed premises were checked in addition to non licensed public areas.  Three minors were cited for underage drinking, and one juvenile was cited for underage drinking and disorderly conduct.  A 12 pack of beer was seized by the officers. 

The Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws” program consists of three components:

1. College Community Coalitions;
2. College and Student Leadership;
3. Targeted Enforcement.  ESU and local police are working on all three to boost prevention.

East Stroudsburg University received funds from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to create an on-going partnership between university and community members.  Citizens, students, professionals, clergy, university administrators, officials from the Boroughs and law enforcement officers will meet regularly to identify solutions to the problems identified through on-going discussions.  This “Campus-Community Coalition” is one of the best known ways to make university towns safer according to the National Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NCAAA).

East Stroudsburg University recently created a new position for an Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Coordinator, in order to increase the overall efforts to prevent dangerous substance and the negative consequences associated with drugs and alcohol.  The new ATOD Coordinator is Randy Light, who will be guiding the efforts of the Campus Community Coalition, as well as implementing the best practices in prevention as known by the experts in this field.

One of the items on the agenda of the Campus–Community Coalition will be student leadership and ways to engage students in productive community service.  Research indicates that college students that volunteer are less likely to drink or do dangerous drugs.  ESU President Robert J. Dillman noted that one of his priorities for the campus this year is to reach out to the local community.  Students are a tremendous resource if they are engaged in productive meaningful activity.

The Campus Community Coalition will start meeting in October, student and campus leadership has been on-going and enforcement of alcohol offences continue around the campus community.