Virginia ABC Launches 2016 College Tour to Promote Partnerships and Safer Campus Communities

The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is pleased to launch its 2016 College Tour initiative, a series of regional alcohol and drug abuse prevention conferences that prepare student leaders to promote healthier and safer campus communities. This year, ABC’s College Tour has expanded into a two-day event to unite students and community members, including representatives from local law enforcement, ABC-licensed establishments and universities who have a common goal of reducing underage and high-risk drinking on campuses and in the surrounding communities.

ABC will kick off this year’s College Tour during Alcohol Awareness Month (April) with a stop at Norfolk State University (NSU) on Friday and Saturday, April 1-2.

• On Friday, April 1, an on-campus alcohol awareness event will be held with the Virginia Beach Police Department, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Norfolk Police Drug and Alcohol Program and other community partners. Also on Friday, Old Dominion University’s Student Wellness Ambassador Team will host a Project Sticker Shock event at 7-Eleven, 4803 Powhatan Ave., Norfolk. Project Sticker Shock is a community awareness program designed to prevent people age 21 and older from purchasing alcohol and providing it to underage youth.
• On Saturday, April 2, the College Tour conference will be held at NSU’s Student Services Center, 700 Park Ave., Norfolk, and run from 9 a.m.–3 p.m., offering three expertly tailored tracks for students, licensees and professionals in the Tidewater region. Sessions will be led by experts in the field and geared toward helping participants develop best-practice strategies to reduce underage and high-risk drinking at their schools and in neighboring communities. Virginia ABC’s Bureau of Law Enforcement will also provide training to help alcohol sellers and servers in licensed establishments better understand Virginia’s alcohol laws and regulations. The Saturday conference includes lunch, and is free and open to all college students and licensees.

“This conference will offer a unique opportunity for students, community members and professionals to network, strengthen prevention efforts, and improve the health, safety and quality of student life on and off-campus,” said ABC Education and Prevention Manager Katie Weaks.

Students, licensees and professionals who are Virginia College Alcohol Leadership Council (VaCALC) members can attend the program for free, while non-VaCALC members pay $20. Registration is encouraged by March 21, but will remain open until the day of the conference. For more details and to enroll, please visit www.abc.virginia.gov/education/programs/college-tour and follow us on Facebook.com/VACollegeTour.

Next stops on the 2016 ABC College Tour include the University of Virginia (April 15-17) and Randolph Macon College (April 29-30). Registration for each regional conference is available on the ABC website.

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The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is a major source of revenue for the commonwealth, contributing more than $1.8 billion to the general fund in the last five years. The agency currently operates 357 state stores. Its Bureau of Law Enforcement oversees more than 16,000 ABC licensed establishments while the Hearings and Appeals Division considers more than 700 cases each year. The agency also provides alcohol education and prevention programs for people of all ages. ABC is committed to progress and innovation in carrying out its control, service and revenue mission.