The number of annual arrests for liquor-law violations on and around campus is expected to decrease from last year’s record high, according to University of Arizona Police Department documents. 

As of Sept. 15 there have been 204 arrests on charges of liquor-law violations since the beginning of 2009, which is less than half the total number of arrests in 2008.

Overall, however, alcohol-related arrests have increased since 2001.

There were a record 484 arrests for liquor-law violations in 2008 — up from 202 arrests in 2001 — and the highest number in at least 16 years, said Sgt. Juan Alvarez, a UAPD spokesman.

UAPD officials said a number of factors affect these numbers.   

“”One reason is some years there are more home football games or concerts than others. More events some years may attribute to the reason,”” Alvarez said.

But Alvarez said he doesn’t think any particular group is to blame for last year’s high.

“”It boils down to individual decision making to the individual who chooses to drink alcohol,”” he said.

UAPD defines a liquor-law violation as anyone under 21 who consumes or possesses alcohol.

When an underage person is caught drinking, UAPD handles the situation one of three ways.

“”We give them a ticket, jail time or they’re diverted to the Dean of Students Office,”” he said.

A UAPD officer can refer a student who has been charged with a first-time misdemeanor offense to the Dean of Students Office and the charge will be dismissed after a diversion program is successfully completed, according to the Dean of Students Web site.

There were 302 alcohol-related diversion cases in 2008 — up from 211 in 2007 — said Veda Kowalski, senior associate dean in the Dean of Students Offic