Scores of tailgaters in Lot 11 this week said an increased police presence aimed at breaking up drinking games and confiscating excess amounts of alcohol signaled a significant shift in tailgating patrols from years past.

University Police spokeswoman Maj. Cathy Atwell said police have focused patrols on Lot 11 because underage drinkers have moved from areas near the North Campus high-rises to lots near Comcast Center, an approach students and alumni tailgating here for years say seems stricter than ever before.

Atwell said in addition to underage drinkers, tailgaters playing drinking games or possessing excessive amounts of alcohol are being given a hard look as well.

“People who play drinking games usually commit other crimes, specifically disorderly conduct,” she said. “So we have more fights, and additionally, people who have been drinking, particularly excessively, tend to more likely be the victim of a crime.”

Several tailgaters interviewed Saturday said a number of fraternities were the subject of police action as well, and Atwell said police are sending letters to fraternity and sorority house directors outlining enforcement policies later this week because of confusion over enforcement during the past two game events.

“The letter outlines exactly what the rules are, what we’re enforcing and what we’re looking for,” she said.

The lots have become targets for enforcement, Atwell said, because of their proximity to University View and because underage drinkers avoid lots previously subjected to similar enforcement.

“The View is brand new to the campus so the activities associated with that parking area are new,” Atwell said. “There’s lots more beer cans in the parking lot by Comcast than in the parking lots by the high-rises, and that was not the case five years ago.”

Groups of tailgaters were asked to pack up drinking games at Saturday’s tailgate, and police issued five citations – two for public urination and three for underage drinking, and confiscated 15 30-packs of beer from two people, Atwell said.

Though it’s not illegal for students to possess a certain amount of alcohol or play drinking games if they’re 21 years or older, officers convinced tailgaters to heed their requests to stop the games by threatening citations for offenses such as open alcohol containers.

“It’s not legal to be drinking alcohol in the parking lots,” Atwell said.

Despite the hundreds of beer-drinking fans who flocked to Comcast lots Saturday to socialize with friends, only those playing drinking games and seen as consuming excessively by police were threatened with the citations, raising the ire of many students who called the enforcement arbitrary and unpredictable.

“It’s inconsistent,” said Matt Reilly, a junior American studies and anthropology major, as he and his friends stood sipping beers in Lot 11 near a rousing game of beer pong.

Lauren Slezak, a senior art and art history double major, agreed the tailgating atmosphere has changed drastically since last year: “I’m a senior, and I noticed about four times more [police] than usual,” she said.

She added that police were walking up and down the aisles of cars and checking IDs, something she has never seen them do in the past. Atwell said, however, that practice is standard procedure.

“This is not different, and I know this because I’ve been a member of the department for a number of years,” she said.

In another section of Lot 11, a group of three alumni stood drinking and talking next a car after an officer told them earlier they weren’t allowed to play their drinking game.

“They said it promoted mass consumption of alcohol,” said Adrian Bachman, 33. He said he planned to drink the same amount of alcohol regardless of whether he played drinking games.

“I don’t know where the no drinking games law came into legislation, but I didn’t see it,” added one of his friends, Chris Chisholm, 33. “Every year they get worse, I think.”

A few rows of cars over, two large beer pong tables were set up with games well underway at each. Officers were nowhere to be seen near the tables, nor were officers nearby when a student grabbed a bag of wine, held it above his head and started chugging from the spout, engaging in exactly the type of behavior the police said they were trying to eliminate.

“We have a limited number of officers,” Atwell said. “They simply can’t make contact with everybody.”

Contact reporter Sara Murray at murraydbk@gmail.com.