Party Smart Party Registration
Don't forget Party Smart Registration! Get tips on how to have a good time and avoid unruly guests, fines, sanctions, and arrests. Learn about common party violations, and use these tips to help you and your housemates plan.
Information
College Alcohol Risk Assessment (CARA)
The CCC began gathering information about campus drinking behavior using the CARA. Members scanned bulletin boards, monitored news, features, and advertising in student and local media, and attended off-campus parties.
Annual Student Survey
Each spring, hundreds of UMass Amherst students are surveyed to track their beliefs and behaviors around alcohol. Survey data helps the CCC identify issues and trends, while evaluating the impact of its strategies.
Forums
The CCC hosts forums with neighbors, law enforcement agencies, and municipal leaders to learn about their concerns and gather input and ideas.
Focus Groups
Student focus groups help develop and evaluate the images and messages used in the CCC’s marketing materials.
Policies
Town Bylaws
- NOISE: Excessive noise that disrupts others is illegal. This includes loud music and yelling.
- OPEN CONTAINERS: It's illegal to have an open container of alcohol in public property.
- KEGS: It's illegal to have a keg without a permit. Get these through your local police department.
- NUISANCE HOUSE: Throwing a rowdy off-campus party can cost you your housing, cash, and more.
- FIRE SAFETY: Tampering with smoke detectors or alarms alarms is unsafe and illegal.
CCC members, with the guidance of national expert Peter Lake, helped review and revise campus alcohol polices. As a result, the quantity of alcohol allowed in dorms was reduced, drinking games and paraphernalia were banned, and consequences for violations were strengthened.
Off-campus, the CCC’s research into legal avenues to stop alcohol abuse and nuisance parties has led to implementation of stricter bylaws and regulations in area communities.
In 2016, the CCC Municipal Strategies committee were instrumental in launching Party Smart Registration.
Enforcement
More comprehensive policies are supported by consistent enforcement by campus and community authorities. CCC meetings, community roundtables and networking have strengthened relationships, communication, and partnerships across jurisdictions.
Education
Educational programs are helping students better understand the rights and responsibilities of using alcohol. Recent accomplishments include expanded advertising, printed materials, interactive presentations for new students and their parents, implementation of a mandatory online alcohol education course, and support for BASICS, the campus intervention and screening program.
Social Norms Marketing Campaign
Social norms are people’s beliefs about what’s normal in a given situation. Beliefs can cause people to change their behavior; this can be useful or destructive, depending on how accurate the perceptions are.
Did you know ... 72% of UMass students support the campus alcohol policies?
At UMass Amherst, like at many other schools, there's a big gap between students' perceived and actual drinking behaviors. People believe most students are drinking a lot, a lot of the time, when in fact, the majority drink moderately, if at all.
Retail Partners Campaign
The CCC is working together with area bars, restaurants, and package stores in reducing dangerous drinking in our community.