FARGO (AP) - Campus officials are proposing to ban certain drink specials at bars as a way to reduce drinking problems among college students.

Karin Walton, director of the North Dakota College Consortium for Substance Abuse Prevention, brought up the issue Tuesday at the Gov. George Sinner Public Policy Symposium at Concordia College in neighboring Moorhead, Minn. The event focused on drug and alcohol abuse.

Walton said drink specials like three-for-ones encourage excessive drinking in a short time.

Laura Oster-Aaland, a student orientation director at North Dakota State University, said 27 states have legislation that prohibits happy hours or drink specials.

"I don't think it's the only solution, but it's a step in the right direction," Oster-Aaland said.

"Obviously, anyone who wants to drink to excess is probably still going to be able to do it, but to openly promote excessive drinking is something that should not be allowed in our society," said Minnesota state Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead.

Dan Dammer, owner of Big Daddy's in Fargo, which offers two-for-one drink specials, said legislation banning them would have little effect. Customers decide how much they want to drink, he said.

"I don't think it's driven by the price as much as people would believe," Dammer said.

Gary Peterson, owner of Chumley's in Moorhead, said there are so many variables in the liquor industry that it would be hard to legislate.

"I don't know any way they could write a law to get rid of them (drink specials)," Peterson said.

Peterson, who has worked in the food and beverage industry for 37 years, said a bar that offers three drinks for the price of one but puts half a shot in each drink may be better than a bar that puts 1½ shots in one drink.

For the legislation to be effective in border cities, both Minnesota and North Dakota would have to support it, said Susanne Williams, assistant to the Minnesota State University Moorhead president.

Oster-Aaland said supporters are looking for someone to sponsor legislation that could target drink specials starting at a certain time of day, such as after 11 p.m.

Walton said she also would like to see a law requiring employees to get training before they can serve alcohol.

Dammer said server training has helped his employees to recognize when customers need to be cut off or when to call them a cab.

In Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead, server training is taught by law enforcement officials and coordinated by the Safe Communities Coalition. Walton said it could be a model for other cities.

East Central District Judge John Irby said he would like to see the state provide more money for drug courts, which offer intensely supervised programs as an alternative to jail.