Spring Break
La Crosse police share safety tips
Speaker travels country giving advice on curbing city drinking problems
Tara Bannow
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
After eight instances of alcohol-related drowning in the Mississippi River, the community in La Crosse developed new initiatives to crack down on underage drinking. Drew Gavrilos of the La Crosse Police Department has been speaking around the country about the city's ideas, and will head to Eau Claire next.
"We're not keeping any secrets here," Gavrilos said.
He is scheduled to present his speech, "United We Stand," at 3 p.m. Friday in the Hibbard Penthouse. It is open to the public and outlines La Crosse's campaign against underage drinking.
Eau Claire is very similar to La Crosse, Gavrilos said, and if La Crosse can be a model for success, then that is what this visit is about.
While La Crosse students have played a major role in response to the problem, people in the community took leadership roles in addressing the problem, Gavrilos said, adding involvement came from private citizens, businesses, local groups and police.
"For a while, the community didn't want to take responsibility for the problem, they just wanted to blame college students," Gavrilos said. "The reality is it's the culture here in western Wisconsin. The community was contributing to the problem."
A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration study found Western Wisconsin has the highest rates of underage drinking in the nation.
Among the changes in La Crosse is a public intoxication ordinance put into place last March. According to the ordinance, at first offense, the individual receives a warning and has the choice of attending a two-hour class at the police department or pay a fine. Gavrilos said most people choose the class.
In addition, the city has established a keg registration ordinance requiring any retailer in the city of La Crosse force customers to register before being issued a keg. They must provide their name, date of birth and location of where the keg will be consumed, Gavrilos said. He added if the police bust a party with underage drinkers, they can easily track who provided the keg.
"We're not keeping any secrets here," Gavrilos said.
He is scheduled to present his speech, "United We Stand," at 3 p.m. Friday in the Hibbard Penthouse. It is open to the public and outlines La Crosse's campaign against underage drinking.
Eau Claire is very similar to La Crosse, Gavrilos said, and if La Crosse can be a model for success, then that is what this visit is about.
While La Crosse students have played a major role in response to the problem, people in the community took leadership roles in addressing the problem, Gavrilos said, adding involvement came from private citizens, businesses, local groups and police.
"For a while, the community didn't want to take responsibility for the problem, they just wanted to blame college students," Gavrilos said. "The reality is it's the culture here in western Wisconsin. The community was contributing to the problem."
A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration study found Western Wisconsin has the highest rates of underage drinking in the nation.
Among the changes in La Crosse is a public intoxication ordinance put into place last March. According to the ordinance, at first offense, the individual receives a warning and has the choice of attending a two-hour class at the police department or pay a fine. Gavrilos said most people choose the class.
In addition, the city has established a keg registration ordinance requiring any retailer in the city of La Crosse force customers to register before being issued a keg. They must provide their name, date of birth and location of where the keg will be consumed, Gavrilos said. He added if the police bust a party with underage drinkers, they can easily track who provided the keg.
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