Ordering microbrews for alumni and Keystone for students, Jack Stinson, owner of Stinson's Village Store, has been preparing well in advance for the arrival of roughly 5,000 individuals to campus for Homecoming festivities.
In preparation for the big weekend, Stinson said he has increased his inventory but made sure not to overstock. He also makes a point to order the alcohol early, he added.
"Everyone is ordering more beer and everything is always late," Stinson said.
Stinson said he makes the vendors aware of Homecoming at least a month in advance in order to help everything run more smoothly.
"I tell them, Don't run out of Keystone. Don't run out of paddles. Don't run out of cups,'" he said. "I exaggerate those orders because they better have it in or we're not going to look good."
Stinson said he does not often encounter students purchasing alcohol with fake IDs.
"The bulk of our sales are to preexisting contacts such as fraternities and sororities," Stinson said. "They're pretty sharp people. They don't send beginners."
Stinson said that students' careless behavior over Homecoming weekend with regard to drinking often leads to unnecessary repercussions.
"The liquor inspector will be in town so don't open a can of beer on Main Street," he said. "If you're underage, it's illegal to touch beer in New Hampshire so don't offer to go with a friend and help them carry their beer."
He also advised underage students not to have alcohol in their cars or trunks since with the increased number of people on campus, law enforcement officers will inevitably be stricter.
"You think I'm out in the boonies so I can do whatever I want' but there are cops on every corner so don't take the main streets," Stinson said. "Take side streets."
Many alumni will also frequent Stinson's as they return to campus over Homecoming weekend.
"They think they're college kids again so they drink more than they should," he said. "Then they come in and say, how did we do it back then?'"
Stinson also tried to take into account the fact that alumni have certain preferences when it comes to beer.
"There are so many microbrews in the Northeast and they are all concentrated within 50 miles of here," he said. "The alums come into town and they want to experience New England so they want local microbrews."
Some of the big sellers in addition to Keystone are Samuel Adams, Harpoon and seasonal beers such as Octoberfest and pumpkin-flavored beer, according to Stinson.
"It's surprising how many beer connoisseurs we have here at Dartmouth," Stinson said. "They don't just want Coors or Keystone. They talk about flavor and taste."
Stinson's used to deliver kegs directly to fraternities and dormitories, but was asked by the College to stop delivering to residential halls due to potential legal concerns.
The decision to stop delivering to fraternities came later as a result of changed Hanover Police policies.
"The liquor inspector and the Hanover Police wanted to go on deliveries with me," Stinson said. "When I mentioned to the fraternities that the police were going to ride with me they chose to come and pick up the alcohol."
Stinson said he feels the change has been better for everyone.
"I have more control on my end," he said. "It also gives more control to the social chairs. They can decide where and when to dispense the beer."
As the campus has transitioned over the past decade from kegs to cans, Stinson said he has noticed the loss of anticipation and excitement surrounding obtaining beer.
He specifically cited the movement that required all Greek houses to remove their tap systems by September 2000.
"You used to have to wait in lines [at fraternities] and they would only give beer to girls and brothers," he said. "Now every corner is a dispensing location."
