As the Policy, Alternatives, Community and Education coalition marks its eighth year of existence at the University of Wisconsin, PACE Project Director Susan Crowley sees a promising future for the program designed to reduce high-risk drinking on campus.

“What we’re really trying to do is make this a comfortable, safe environment for everyone, whether they’re drinking or not,” Crowley said.

PACE has focused on a myriad of issues related to alcohol consumption on campus in an attempt to reduce the negative consequences of high-risk drinking. Crowley said the organization develops strategies and offers suggestions to campus and city leaders in hopes that PACE’s proposals will reduce the number of students who engage in high-risk drinking.

“We really want to implement strategies we think will work over time,” Crowley said.

PACE was the driving organization behind a voluntary weekend drink-special ban implemented in downtown bars beginning in September 2002. The organization now wants to see downtown bars ban all drink specials, according to a summary report released by PACE.

According to data released at a PACE meeting in September 2003, after one year of the weekend drink-specials ban, the number of crimes involving alcohol rose slightly Thursday nights, dropped Fridays and stayed the same Saturday nights. However, Crowley said PACE is still analyzing data to include more recent results. She said the organization is beginning to see some “promising” results from the data.

But Crowley emphasizes that banning drink specials is not PACE’s only focus.

“It’s one part of a broad strategy,” Crowley said.

Last fall, PACE focused on issues relating to binge-drinking at house parties. In addition to continuing to work on house-party policies, PACE wants to get parents interested and involved in the discussion about drinking on campus. The group also wants to work with students to see what kinds of expectations students have for PACE and what kind of message PACE is sending students.

Crowley encourages students to let PACE know if they have any ideas or suggestions.

“Get involved in the discussion,” Crowley said.

PACE began in 1996 after the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation approached UW and asked if the university would be interested in participating in its project to reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse. PACE is funded by a grant from the RWJ Foundation.