Doug Larson, CYA, and Campus Alcohol Consumption

The thread Campustown Safety Summit has drifted a bit off topic. Doug Larsen, owner of Joe's Brewery, recent post on that thread can send us back on track, although it  intermingles two issues: drinking events, and bar entry age.    Starting this new thread based upon Mr. Larson's remarks seems prudent.

Concerning the points of Mr Larson's post (Mr. Larson's comments are bolded):

First, I want to thank B is for Business for what looks to me like a massive amount of effort basically on the behalf of the bar owners who are afraid to speak for themselves and who no one else seems to care much for.

Even if B is for Business's anonymity isn't hiding his role as a confederate for bar owners, his merely calling for a meeting and rehashing a list of problems associated with campus alcohol, makes  no significant contribution.

Whether justified or not, public opinion now regards campus bar owners, landlords and Wall Street moguls with approximately equal suspicion

I understand why people may be upset with the idea of Barscramble.  While we were careful not to do anything illegal, it was not our finest hour.  Not for the City, not for the students that participated, not for the bars.  For the part that we played in it, I apologize

From the Irish Illini web site describing the Barscramble it sponsors each semester:

Semesterly barcrawls that are far and away larger than any other on campus. Each themed barscramble is a group event that tests your stamina, intellect, and liver.  [Bold added]  Barscramble is a raucus occasion that competes with Unofficial for the greatest Day O' Fun each school year.

The only responsible actions by a bar with advance knowledge of such or similar events are (i) very clearly posted signs that participants in the event are not welcome; and (ii) instructions to staff not to serve participants in the event and to requiring patrons attempting to participate to leave.  Since Mr Larson and other bar owners cannot have failed to  figure this out long ago,    they are undoubtedly suffering from CYA syndrome.

I will donate the proceeds of the event to the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club.

How will Larson calculate this amount? On the other hand his charitable contributions should be based on his desire to give, not to atone for sins and misdeeds.

This all could have been avoided with a little communication between the bars and the City which is clearly within both side’s capabilities.

Mr. Larson: You are displaying the evasiveness associated with CYA syndrome.. Just tell us exactly what the bar owners should have communicated to the city, and what the city should have communicated to the bar owners.

A few bars would go out of business (maybe even mine, it’s impossible to predict), but the City Council cannot worry about that.  What’s right isn’t always what’s profitable.  I would be willing to discuss this at a summit or with any City official– nothing is off the table as far as I’m concerned.

A tacit admission a significant part of campus bar revenue is from alcohol consumption by persons under 21

The only thing I can say is that the drinking age law will be violated in this and every college town, practically every night. 

Agree

Until we either change the laws or change the culture, that’s just the way it’s going to be.  So it comes back to that old mantra of the 19 year old entry crowd: would you rather have them drinking in bars or at apartments?      ....

Concurrently, the number and size of house parties has gone down.

That underage drinking in apartments and other private places will increase if 19 year olds are not allowed in bars is speculation. One could also argue that part of the attraction of a bar is the social atmosphere and the perceived safety. . Denying these to sub-21 year olds might be enough of a damper, so that alcohol consumption among this group near campus would decrease.

There is no evidence that any decrease in campus alcohol consumption and or campus house parties is the result of alcohol-related rules imposed by the city and/or bar owners, rather than the result of a change in culture.

It is also possible to create such large penalties for relatively minor infractions that it becomes impossible to sustain a business. 

Not possible because the  City Council would react to  input from bar owners would to prevent such.   A similar example of a Council listening to citizen and business input was the Urbana Council's recent rejection of a poorly drafted property criminal nuisance ordinance—and certainly the Champaign council is more reasonable towards business than Urbana's.

It’s completely possible to create so many rules that it is impossible to operate.        .....

I don’t need to sit through another useless meeting where nothing gets done and there is just a bunch of posturing.

Come on Mr. Larson. Don't dilly-dally and don't posture.     Just tell us (i) which of the current rules you dislike and why, (ii) which new rules you think would be helpful, and (ii) which rules that have been suggested here and in other jurisdictions you oppose. Getting all this in the open will expedite the evolution of public opinion and promote progress at any subsequent meetings.