N.C. State Eases Tailgating Rules

Three years later, some of those rules are being relaxed.

Tailgating will be allowed five hours before kick-off instead of four. To keep the partying from getting out of control, no kegs are allowed.

Campus police said they saw an increase during the first two weeks of the school year in students arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Three students were charged with DUI. That's compared to none during the same time period last year. Fifteen students were caught drinking underage – four times the number in 2006.

“The university police department has become very aggressive in enforcing alcohol violations on campus,” said NCSU Police Chief Tom Younce.

Younce said it's not that more students are drinking necessarily. It is just easier for his officers to catch underage drinkers, thanks to a new state law.

“We can administer breath tests to people we believe have consumed alcohol and are under the age,” he said.

In years past, someone had to see you drinking. If you tried to decline the test, you could still be charged.

Not every student thinks the new rules are all bad.

“It is kind of a good idea, because I can see how things can get out of hand,” said NCSU junior John Wendel.

Another new addition to tailgating will be student volunteers on the grounds. School officials said they will not be enforcing rules as much as helping those going to the game find their way around.

Beginning this year, all new students to N.C. State must take an online course teaching about the dangers of alcohol.

The kick-off for N.C. State's game against the University of Central Florida is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.