Drinking awareness will be promoted Wednesday as the NIU chapter of Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol (GAMMA) will be serving nonalcoholic beverages from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the King Memorial Commons.

The idea is being used to promote Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week as well as to help publicize the NIU chapter of GAMMA.

Recipes for the nonalcoholic drinks have to be submitted to the University Programming and Activities office by 4:30 p.m. today, and the winning drink will be served in the commons on Wednesday.

This is GAMMA’s second year at NIU. Last year the organization promoted “dead day” where a percentage of NIU students were selected and classified dead by wearing a black arm band throughout the day. The organization used this to display the effects of drinking-related accidents on a national level.

GAMMA also sponsored a mock trial that displayed the dangers of excessive alcohol intake. “We were able to get the help of the state’s attorney for the trial,” said GAMMA member Kevin Camden. “The trial showed the legal effects of drinking.”

The idea for this semester’s promotion came about over the summer while GAMMA members were brainstorming for ideas.

“We wanted to find a way of promoting drinking awareness, as well as promote our group,” said GAMMA Treasurer Dave Imielski. “We thought of serving some sort of fruit cocktails and the idea just grew from that.”

GAMMA also is sponsoring a hugs and kisses contest for drug awareness, where contestants must answer questions correctly about drug awareness to receive a hug and a kiss as a prize.

“If people walk by and are able to answer the questions, they’ll get a hug and a kiss for givingthe right answer,” said Contest Organizer Emily Jerkins.

Although many fraternity and sorority members are involved in GAMMA, the group is open to all students. “We are hoping that some of the publicity from the drink contest will get our name around a bit,” Imielski said. “We hope to start getting more people involved in our organization.”

The group will also be sponsoring a speech called “Does My Friend Drink Too Much?” at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Newman Center.