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TechnographChampaign passes bar regulation
Entry age may increase for certain events
By Kyle Waller
Posted: 4/16/08 Section: News
The Champaign City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday night to pass an ordinance giving Mayor Gerald Schweighart the power to increase the entry age for University bars from 19 to 21 in "emergency" situations.
In order to enforce that power, the mayor must give Champaign bars 24 hours notice before implementing the age increase, meaning the act would be in anticipation of uncontrollable environments, not a reaction to them.
The mayor also acts as liquor commissioner, and the new ordinance is an addition to the mayor's existing emergency powers, which he can use to close bars completely or limit sales of alcohol.
Champaign residents who spoke at the meeting supported the idea of raising the bar age during uncontrollable situations.
As a result of the vote, events such as Unofficial St. Patrick's Day can prompt the mayor to use the power if advertising of the event becomes widespread.
Because these events cause large gatherings of students from both the University and other colleges in an alcohol-driven setting, the ordinance could deter students not enrolled at the University from participating.
With University restrictions and the mayor's new power, some council members hope for a drastic decrease in underage drinking in local bars during Unofficial.
"With the bars under control, law enforcement will be able to more effectively monitor and close down private parties and wild public behavior," Dist. 4 council member Marci Dodds said. "Private parties are where the real danger lies."
Dist. 2 council member Michael La Due said private parties are the least-controllable atmospheres. At-large council member Thomas Bruno agreed, saying that instead of going to the bars, students may buy more alcohol to take home.
"The ultimate goal is to do away with the event entirely," he said. "We're not putting a restriction on access to alcohol, we're only restricting where they can consume it."
Although increasing the entry age could reduce underage drinking in bars, council members believed that the bar is actually safer for students because there are sober and responsible people working in these places that can call the proper authorities and bring the bar to a controllable environment.
"Bars are simply easier to control when things get out of hand," Dodds said. "Intoxicated kids are less likely to keep other intoxicated kids safe."
Dist. 3 council member Vic McIntosh said just as council members ended past Halloween celebrations, they now target Unofficial.
In order to enforce that power, the mayor must give Champaign bars 24 hours notice before implementing the age increase, meaning the act would be in anticipation of uncontrollable environments, not a reaction to them.
The mayor also acts as liquor commissioner, and the new ordinance is an addition to the mayor's existing emergency powers, which he can use to close bars completely or limit sales of alcohol.
Champaign residents who spoke at the meeting supported the idea of raising the bar age during uncontrollable situations.
As a result of the vote, events such as Unofficial St. Patrick's Day can prompt the mayor to use the power if advertising of the event becomes widespread.
Because these events cause large gatherings of students from both the University and other colleges in an alcohol-driven setting, the ordinance could deter students not enrolled at the University from participating.
With University restrictions and the mayor's new power, some council members hope for a drastic decrease in underage drinking in local bars during Unofficial.
"With the bars under control, law enforcement will be able to more effectively monitor and close down private parties and wild public behavior," Dist. 4 council member Marci Dodds said. "Private parties are where the real danger lies."
Dist. 2 council member Michael La Due said private parties are the least-controllable atmospheres. At-large council member Thomas Bruno agreed, saying that instead of going to the bars, students may buy more alcohol to take home.
"The ultimate goal is to do away with the event entirely," he said. "We're not putting a restriction on access to alcohol, we're only restricting where they can consume it."
Although increasing the entry age could reduce underage drinking in bars, council members believed that the bar is actually safer for students because there are sober and responsible people working in these places that can call the proper authorities and bring the bar to a controllable environment.
"Bars are simply easier to control when things get out of hand," Dodds said. "Intoxicated kids are less likely to keep other intoxicated kids safe."
Dist. 3 council member Vic McIntosh said just as council members ended past Halloween celebrations, they now target Unofficial.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
Good lord
posted 4/16/08 @ 7:37 AM CST
Wow, because there's so much more of a difference between 19 and 21. Have fun busting more parties officers.
It's About Time!!
posted 4/16/08 @ 11:38 AM CST
It's about time something is done. People act like Unofficial is Mardi Gras, yet they are in the middle of corn fields. If you are under 21, you can wait the extra couple years to go to bars. (Continued…)
novak0804
It's About Time
posted 4/16/08 @ 11:43 AM CST
It's about time something is done. People act like Unofficial is Mardi Gras, yet they are in the middle of corn fields. If you are under 21, you can wait the extra couple years to go to bars. (Continued…)
kristen
posted 4/16/08 @ 12:36 PM CST
This new ordinance is going to have the opposite effect the Champaign government anticipates. Less people at bars will lead to more drinking at house/apartment parties. (Continued…)
Good Job, City Council
posted 4/16/08 @ 1:22 PM CST
It's about time that the City of Champaign realized that letting 19-year olds into the bars was the main cause of problems on Unofficial. By temporarily raising the bar age, underage students will realize they aren't supposed to be consuming alcohol, and will hopefully return to their dorms, apartments, and Greek houses, and focus on their academics. (Continued…)
Kevin
posted 4/16/08 @ 2:11 PM CST
I love Unofficial, BUT there are many things that should change. I just gets me that they clearly admit udnerage drinking is a problem and concern yet 19 year olds are still allowed into the bars ALL YEAR LONG. (Continued…)
Dan
posted 4/16/08 @ 2:29 PM CST
I acknowledge Kevin's thoughts as their appears to be a glaring inconsistency b the city. They city pretends it is taking the moral high ground but is only covering itself on "select" days when it is truly eager to accumulate money through fines and such. (Continued…)
Shiu
posted 4/16/08 @ 3:12 PM CST
It's finally time that the IL liquor commission and the city is doing something about the bar age, to ban underage drinking, they can put the bar entry age to 21 like all other college towns did. (Continued…)
Nick
posted 4/16/08 @ 4:27 PM CST
Most countries in Europe have a drinking age of 18 (and pretty often 16 for beer and wine), and they don't seem to have half the problems we do involving alcohol. (Continued…)
Larry
posted 4/16/08 @ 11:34 PM CST
Sounds like the Mayor has a little too much power. Did George W. Bush come up with this plan? Finally, the city is going about this situation the wrong way and the bars will lose business in the long run. (Continued…)
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