It's not often that police actually want you to put on your beer goggles. Or ride a tricycle.

But both items are important parts of the activities for Wayne State's Alcohol Awareness Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, on the first floor of the Student Center Building.

Part of the building will be turned into an obstacle course, to be driven on adult-size tricycles while wearing "fatal vision" goggles, which simulate visual acuity at impaired and intoxicated blood-alcohol levels. In addition to driving the obstacle course, participants can wear the goggles while performing field sobriety tests.

The WSU department of public safety, which is providing the goggles for the event, is only the third organization in southeast Michigan to own a pair. The goggles were paid for by President Irvin Reid's office after he noticed the crowd at a previous alcohol awareness event held during the week of his September 18 inauguration.

Sgt. Dave Scott of public safety said the success of that event - in which people were still lining up to try the goggles an hour after the scheduled ending time - prompted the planning of the Oct. 22 activities.

In addition to the obstacle course, the event also provides a chance to sample a "mocktail," or nonalcoholic cocktail, served by WSU students posing as crash test dummies (not to be confused with the musical group) or accident victims. Mothers Against Drunk Driving will provide informational handouts and post a picture board with photos of people killed in drunk driving accidents.

Participants also get a chance to star in mock television talk shows, with episodes focusing on the consequences of combining alcohol with unsafe sex, driving, boating and peer pressure.

WSU's Alcohol Awareness Day activities are sponsored by the department of public safety, along with the WSU Office of Student Center and Program Activities. For more information call (313) 577-3723 or (313) 577-3444.