This year, alcohol-related arrests declined on St. Patrick's Day compared to last year's numbers, possibly because of increased police enforcement.

The State College Police Department said they responded to 66 calls between 4 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday. About 70 percent of the incidents were alcohol related.

Crimes this year included five charges of public drunkenness, three charges of driving under the influence, three assaults and three citations for underage drinking.

During the same period last year, there were nine charges of public drunkenness, five charges of driving under the influence, seven assaults and eight citations for underage drinking.

Sgt. Dana Leonard said State College Police worked with Pennsylvania State Police and the Centre County Alcohol Task Force to "keep a lid" on alcohol-fueled crimes.

Eight Pennsylvania State Police troopers were present downtown and nine additional State College Police officers were on duty, Leonard said.

In one incident, Michael Gingrich, 25, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment for a Thursday night assault, State College Police Sgt. Keith Robb said.

Gingrich allegedly punched and kicked a victim, who was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center for treatment and received 14 stitches for a head laceration, State College Police Sgt. John Gardner said.

The incident appeared to be alcohol related, police said.

Ferguson Township Police Department Detective John Conti said plainclothes officers from the Centre County Alcohol Task Force were in place Thursday night around the Centre region in bars and state stores.

"[The goal is] to combat excessive and dangerous habits of indulging in alcoholic beverages," Conti said.

"The excessive alcohol also leads to other crimes such as assaults," he added.

Penn State University Police Officer Ben Hess said St. Patrick's Day was a busy night for university police as well.

"It was comparable to your average Friday or Saturday. It was busier than a usual Thursday," Hess said. "Most of the incidents were alcohol related."

The number of incidents, which included two DUIs and seven citations for underage drinking, was typical for past St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Hess said

"Our incidents go up a little because of the nature of the holiday," he said. "About 70 to 80 percent of our [incidents] were alcohol related."