Guidebook on Drinking, Acceptable Community Behavior

Illinois State University and a coalition of Bloomington-Normal campuses and community partners are working to better inform college students about the negative impact of high risk drinking behavior on the local community.  Illinois State is part of the Bloomington-Normal Community Campus Committee (BNCCC) which is compiling a guide book and beginning a marketing campaign to promote socially acceptable community behavior.

The guidebook, being compiled with input from educators, students, community members, and health care and law enforcement professionals, will give college students information on how binge drinking and other alcohol related behaviors can negatively impact the local community.  The guide will also provide an overview of local alcohol regulations as well as tips on standards of community behavior such as responsible party etiquette, good neighborhood relations, acceptable noise levels and respect for the rights and property of others.  When completed, the guide will be distributed to students at Illinois State, Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College and Lincoln College-Normal, as well as to community members. 

Illinois State recently received a two year grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools to begin a local marketing campaign to promote the community standards guidebook and address the community problems caused by high risk drinking behavior among students.  The grant funding will be used to hire a marketing firm to conduct the community outreach campaign.

The BNCCC is a broad-based coalition consisting of representatives from Illinois State, Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College and Lincoln College-Normal, along with community partners from retail, police, city council, drug and alcohol prevention and treatment agencies, school districts and hospitals.   The group's mission is to reduce high-risk drinking and related consequences among students in Bloomington-Normal.

The BNCCC continues to seek community input for its student guidebook on drinking and community behavior standards.  Community members can visit www.bnccc.org for contact information.