Access to alcohol is strict for college students under the legal age limit — or so we would think. In December of 2012, KAM’s, a popular bar on campus, was penalized by the city of Champaign for allowing underage customers into their business and for serving alcohol to minors. KAM’s was ordered to close down for three weeks.
Along with being forced to shut down, KAM’s was also given a fine of $3,000 and was enforced a change in their entry age from 19 to 21 (which is in effect until May 2013).
Nicholas Davis, junior in Advertising, thinks that KAM’s 21+ entry age will cause KAM’s to lose a lot of business. “I think it’s probably not a great idea. I don’t spend a lot of time at KAMS, but most of the people I do know who go there a lot are under 21,” he states.
In the US, the minimum age for purchasing and publicly possessing alcohol is 21. The same age minimum goes for entry to bars. Though for many college towns, such as Champaign, the minimum entry age is 19.
For the bars on campus, the lower entry age generates more business. However, this age minimum also gives more students the opportunity to engage in underage drinking.
“The times I’ve been [to KAM’s], there were tons of younger people who were absolutely drunk out of their minds,” mentions Vanessa Cervantes, a junior in Communications.
She believes that KAM’s new entry age will make a positive impact and perhaps make it more difficult for underage students to sneak in to the bars.
Though, Ryan Adams*, Junior in Kinesiology, seems to disagree. Adams doesn’t believe that KAM’s new entry age will make much of a difference, “because most of the people who go there have fake IDs. . .”
The lack of strict regulations at most bars makes it easier for students to use fake IDs. Most have adopted the mentality that bars “don’t really check” IDs.
With this being said, it is not uncommon for students to engage in drinking during college. It’s an activity that is part of the culture on campus. For many, it’s a large part of their social lives.
Vanessa Cervantes agreed that campus bars provide an environment to have fun and socialize, “. . . you have a better time because of all the people you see and know from campus.”
When asked about his preference between campus and off-campus bars, Nicholas Davis said, “If you want to go out and get wasted and just not care, campus bars are clearly the place for you.” He mentions that downtown bars are better to, “just hang out and drink causally or talk to people while you drink.”
No matter what kind of social life students choose to partake in, caution should always be taken. Students should know how to have responsible fun.
“Being in college and going to college bars is all a part of the experience,” states Hailey Moore*, a sophomore in News-Editorial Journalism. “There is a type of rowdiness that is only truly acceptable in college bars, so we might as well enjoy it while we can.”
*Name changed for privacy