Every new school year we return to hear about alcohol related accidents involving our friends and classmates. This year, however, we’ve been hearing about changes and preventative measures.

A bill awaiting the approval of Gov. James Thompson will prohibit Illinois taverns from offering alcohol gimmicks and price reductions that increase alcohol consumption during happy hour periods.

As Sen. Patrick Welch, D-Peru, said the number of weekday traffic accidents that occur during happy hour periods are “unproportional to all other times.”

Alcohol sold and distributed as part of happy hour promotions obviously contribute to the high accident statistics. Abolishing these happy hour promotions should show a decline in related accidents, no matter how slight.

Of course people who wish to become intoxicated will still have no problem doing so, but lives might be saved if the fun and games are taken out of alcohol consumption.

The prohibition of happy hours is an excellent move to save lives not only around the NIU campus, but all over the state. If this bill is passed and manages to save one life, it will have served its purpose.