A national survey by Insurance.com shows Indy 6th on a city list for the most drunk driving offenders.

What pushes one city to the top over another? A city's record for drunk driving convictions could have many reasons, according to the report:

•  More drinkers and partiers in general
• Less public transportation, so more bar-hoppers are driving home
• Better enforcement of DUI laws, so more convictions
  

Methodology: Insurance.com based its list on the top 20 cities by population, according to the Census Bureau; then reviewed people in those cities who requested car insurance quotes at Insurance.com; and calculated the percentage of people in each city who reported having at least one alcohol-related violation.

As Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, pushes a "reform" bill on mandatory carding, WEHT (ABC) in Evansville talked to those who support and oppose the law.

The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, a partner with Project RAD, goes on record again saying the law should be allowed to work.

Project RAD also continues to say - give the law a chance to work.

The Journal Gazette

Just as many Hoosiers are becoming accustomed to routinely producing an ID when buying alcohol, some Indiana lawmakers are talking about changing the law they passed less than a year ago that requires almost everyone to do so.

Opponents say it's ridiculous for senior citizens and others who obviously appear older than 21. One proposal would scale back the current law - which requires anyone who looks younger than 70 to produce ID for carryout sales - to anyone who looks 40 and younger. Many carryout stores have simply adopted the policy of checking ID for everyone. A good number of restaurants and bars have adopted the policy for patrons drinking within the establishments as well, even though the "looks under 70" law doesn't apply to those sales. 

Sellers of alcohol may actually like the current law more than buyers - it takes out any guesswork. Lowering the "looks younger than" law still will require a good amount of guesswork. 

What lawmakers should try their best to avoid is changing the law frequently, forcing both buyers and sellers to learn their legal rights and responsibilities every year or so. Any change made this year - if one is even necessary - should be considered the permanent law.

The News-Sentinel

Indiana University's School of Medicine is offering to pay research subjects $350 to drink (and be tested while under the influence).

The Clinical Research Center wants to measure how brains respond while under the influence, or as the ad says - "while tasting your favorite drinks."

Qualifiers:

• You must be 21-35 to participate
• You must be available for one day
• You must provide your drinking history, family history of any trouble with alcohol, use of any drugs, and sense of smell and taste

Here's an interesting opinion piece from Pittsburgh as football season opens-from the high school fields to the stadium boxes.

"Hey, I play for Pitt football. ... Please don't arrest me."

If those 10 words aren't scary to Dave Wannstedt, the Pitt football coach should have to blow into a breathalyzer the way Jason Douglas did after saying them to Pittsburgh police officers.

That Douglas registered a .178 percent - more than twice the legal limit - after being arrested for a hit-and-run on the South Side is cause for alarm.

Or panic, if you prefer.

This wasn't some stupid summary offense. The charges against Douglas, 19, a redshirt freshman tailback from Opa-locka, Fla., are serious: felonies for an accident involving death or personal injury and aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, as well as misdemeanor DUI, not to mention underage drinking.

Wannstedt immediately issued an indefinite suspension for Douglas but indicated Wednesday he has probably played his last game for the Panthers. Wannstedt also demoted Douglas' passenger, starting middle linebacker Dan Mason, to the second string during this bye week.

Wannstedt should have gone a step further.

For the full story from writer Kevin Gorman, click here.

Members of Purdue University's cooperative housing, fraternities and sororities voted to lift a social moratorium on drinking. It was implemented seven days earlier.

The ban meant Purdue's Greeks and students living in co-ops could not drink at their facilities or functions, no matter the event's location.

The drinking restriction was lifted as of Thursday.

"I do think the moratorium was long enough," said Nick Kitchell, Interfraternity Council president, and Purdue senior. "We understand the moratorium was not the solution to the problem. The main issue that everyone wanted to focus on is making it safer on campus."

Leadership of the five governing councils, made up of Greek and co-op leaders, spent the past week developing short-term goals to strength regulations already in place.

The new goals include uniform sanctions for violation of the hard alcohol policy. Only beer and wine coolers, under certain conditions, can be served at house functions to those 21 years old and older.

Offenders of this policy can now be fined up to $500. On a third offense, a house would be recommended for withdrawal of recognition from campus.

Click here to read the full article written by Eric Weddle for the Journal & Courier.

As with any return to a college campus in the fall, comes the traditional mixing of adult alumni and college students. Both can drink to excess as this lengthy article points out in the Terre Haute paper. Just how easy public drunkenness is to police when it involves a crowd (and adults buying booze for underage drinkers) is entirely another matter.

Click here to read the full article.

At the close of our recent reader survey, the following individuals said they are interested in a community partnership.

We welcome them to our growing family: 

John Turkupolis: Assistant Parole Officer

Mary Walker: Chairman of the Public Safety & Neighborhood Health Committee of the Marion County Alliance of Neighborhood Associations

Lisa Smith: Program Coordinator for Tippecanoe County Court Services

Greg Boesch: Owner of Bedrock Liquors

Michele Slater: Youth Director for Mental Health America

Janet Whitfield-Hyduk: Community Consultant for Indiana Criminal Justice Institute

Ward Odom: Marshal of the Hudson Police Department

Orville Perry: Jasper County Sheriff

Pamela S. Erickson: CEO of Public Action Management, PLC