Pullman police officers responded this weekend to several occasions of unconscious and ill people due to the influence of alcohol, and the trend continues to grow.

“I think it’s notable, people are binge drinking quite a bit,” Cmdr. Chris Tennant of the Pullman Police Department (PPD) said.

While this school year has not been the worst he’s witnessed, Tennant said it is definitely not the best.

“There’s not a lot of responsible drinkers out there,” Tennant said. “I’ve seen that trend getting worse over the past five years.”

Tennant said the PPD is trying to help people understand that if the police are called during a drinking-related emergency, the individuals will not face legal action.

“The problem is, especially for fraternities and sororities, they get to the point where they’re so intoxicated they’re passing out, and they don’t want their house to get in trouble. It’s just silly,” Tennant said.

Tennant indicated that whether or not the medical health issue is alcohol-related, the police will respond to the situation solely as a medical circumstance.

“If you or your friends call for a medical health issue, then the police are not going to charge for an MIP,” Tennant said.

Tennant wanted to inform the public that the potential consequences of alcohol poisoning are far more detrimental than misdemeanor charges.

Reporting by Kelsey Bowers