Champaign passes bar regulation

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.