As college students return to campuses, including the four in Potsdam and Canton, a coordinated effort has been established by several state agencies and institutions to prevent underage drinking.

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, New York State Liquor Authority, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, and state police are combining resources to prevent underage drinking.

"Underage drinking can lead to life-altering consequences for college students, and as the fall semester gets underway, we are working to educate college students about this reckless behavior," Gov. Cuomo said. "These coordinated efforts will build on our progress to help avoid needless tragedies and create a safer learning environment on campuses statewide."

The following interagency efforts are aimed at protecting college students:

OASAS Campaign Helps Parents Talk to College Students About the Dangers of Underage Drinking and Drug Use

NYS OASAS actively works to prevent underage drinking and to stop the disease of addiction before it starts, and is launching the next phase of its Talk2Prevent campaign, which provides resources for parents on how to talk to their college-age students on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use. The agency also makes resources available that describe the risks associated with underage drinking and illicit drug use for colleges and community-based organizations, including posters, fact sheets and postcards. A letter regarding the availability of these Talk2Prevent materials will be shared with colleges and community partners across the state this month. A Kitchen Table Tool Kit, developed to assist parents, teachers, counselors and the community with guidance on how to initiate conversations about heroin and prescription opioid abuse, is also available on the Combat Heroin website.

NYS OASAS anticipates issuing a Request for Proposals in the near future to help colleges across New York enhance their substance use prevention efforts. As part of this proposal, public colleges will be eligible for grants for efforts aimed at preventing underage drinking and prescription drug misuse and building campus coalitions.

SLA Trainings for Bar, Restaurant and Tavern Owners

The SLA, in collaboration with the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association (ESRTA), will host a series of free trainings across the state for bar, restaurant, and tavern owners and their staff. The day-long programs will focus on the legal responsibilities of selling alcohol and provide training in practical skills to help licensees and their employees fulfill their legal responsibilities.

The SLA has already conducted these trainings in Kingston, Troy, Cortland and Oneonta. This fall, SLA and ESRTA plan to offer trainings in Rochester, Syracuse, Long Island, Newburgh, Utica, Binghamton, Buffalo and Tarrytown.

The SLA has intensified enforcement actions to crack down on sales to minors in addition to providing education to licensees on their responsibilities.

In May, Gov. Cuomo launched the “No Excuses” campaign aimed at curbing underage drinking, that included the distribution of more than 15,000 display materials to restaurants and liquor stores across the state. In 2015, the SLA prosecuted 1,552 licensees for underage sales, a 50 percent increase from 1,036 prosecutions in 2010.

The SLA also increased the number of trainings to reduce underage sales and help licensees to avoid violations before they occur by certifying and promoting Alcohol Training Awareness Program (ATAP). The number of ATAP trainings completed by licensees and their staff has increased by more than 150 percent, from 5,803 in 2011, to 14,549 in 2015.

DMV’s "Operation Prevent" Launches in College Towns

DMV’s “Operation Prevent” program is aimed at deterring underage drinking by preventing the use of fake IDs to obtain alcohol. DMV investigators work with local authorities at known underage drinking hotspots to check identification documents. Preventing underage youths from gaining access to alcohol keeps them safe and keeps our roads safe for everyone. Governor Cuomo announced that in 2015, DMV investigators made 760 arrests and confiscated more than 750 fraudulent ID documents under the program.

During the summer months, the program mainly focuses on popular settings like concert venues across New York. As summer concert season winds down, DMV investigators will be working closely with SLA and law enforcement entities across New York, focusing much of their efforts on establishments near colleges. During one such compliance inspection at The Smokin’ Bull in Albany in November 2015, approximately 115 of the 125 patrons at the establishment were found to be under the age of 21, leading to more than 70 arrests.

Last year, Governor Cuomo also issued a warning to returning college students on the dangers of buying fake IDs over the internet. In recent years, DMV investigators have found dozens of examples of underage license holders becoming victims of identity theft after purchasing fraudulent identification online from overseas companies.

NYSP Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit Works to Protect College Students from Sexual Violence

Members of the State Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit are presenting at college orientation sessions and hosting trainings for stakeholders, speaking on various topics, including the link between alcohol abuse and sexual violence on campus.

The mission of the unit, which was created by Governor Cuomo’s landmark “Enough is Enough” legislation, is to reduce the incidence of sexual violence on campus through outreach to students, staff and stakeholders.

The unit will also coordinate the investigation of campus sex crimes that are reported to the State Police, and provide investigative support as requested by campus and local law enforcement agencies.

Research shows that each year, nationwide, more than 1,800 college students die from alcohol-related injuries., 696,000 college students are assaulted by another student that has been drinking and 97,000 college students experience alcohol-related sexual assault.

Additionally, NYS OASAS reports drinking alcohol before age 21 can interfere with brain development, causing potential learning difficulties well into the early 20s. Early alcohol use is associated with poor grades, absenteeism, and higher school dropout rates.