How Do Local Bars Deal with the College Town Problem of Underage Drinking?
With two new classes of Michigan State University students now in East Lansing for the first time due to the University offering classes largely online last year, the City’s bar owners and the East Lansing Police Department are addressing a perennial issue facing college towns: underage drinking.
Since the University of Michigan is taking on MSU at Spartan Stadium this upcoming Halloween weekend, several community members have contacted ELi to find out more about how underage drinking is handled in East Lansing with two big drinking events rolled into one weekend.
“The bar and restaurant operators in East Lansing are some of the toughest in the state,” said Tom Bramson, managing partner of a company that owns several downtown establishments, including Rick’s, The Riv, and Beggar’s Banquet. This is largely thanks to the efforts of the East Lansing Responsible Hospitality Council (RHC), whose members aim to completely eliminate underage drinking on their premises.
The RHC, consisting of licensed alcohol-serving establishments and supporting liaison members from ELPD and MSUPD, holds yearly training programs for the employees of its licensed member businesses, including ID checking and responsible serving.
Bouncers are trained on how to spot fake IDs and the questions to ask their holders. Still, if there is any uncertainty on the authenticity of an ID, ELPD can check the license. Bramson said that the ELPD is called down to his establishments to run an ID more than once a week.
After dinner service, members of the RHC voluntarily turn into strictly 21-and-up establishments. This is enforced through ID checkers, or bouncers, at the door. Bouncers who fail to decline entry to underage people risk their jobs, a fine, and potentially a 90-day jail term. Serving alcohol to those underage risks an establishment’s liquor license, relationship with ELPD, and business reputation.
“There are plenty of students over 21 to satisfy seats in bars,” said Bramson.
Although many of the downtown establishment operators acknowledged that identifying fake IDs has become more difficult in recent years, the training programs have also evolved. Michael Krueger, owner of Crunchy’s and Chair of East Lansing’s Downtown Development Authority, said that he offers his servers a bounty of $10 per fake ID they identify and confiscate.
How widespread is the problem of fake IDs?
“In March 2020, we turned in over 4,000 confiscated IDs to the ELPD that we collected from the school year, just September to March,” said Pat Riley, the owner of Harper’s Restaurant and Brew Pub and RHC president.
ELPD conducts at least one walk-through of every downtown bar every night they are open to survey for underage patrons that may have gained entry with a fake ID. Additionally, several times a year, ELPD conducts sting operations, sending an underage cadet through the bar lines with a fake ID to ensure that establishments are carefully checking at the doors.
ELPD officers are encouraged to enforce various alcohol-related ordinances with warnings or citations when their call load allows, according to ELPD Deputy Chief Steve Gonzalez. The minor-in-possession ordinance prohibits those under 21 from possessing, purchasing, or consuming alcohol, or attempting to do so.
Beyond enforcement, ELPD is involved in educational efforts and programs to engage and inform the East Lansing and MSU communities about the ordinances that apply to alcohol. Such involvement ranges from producing educational messaging to engaging with Greek Life and other student groups to educate about ordinances and safety.
“Part of the fun of living in a college town is the environment created by the students,” said Bramson. He said that it is the responsibility of the bar and restaurant owners to do the right thing and keep everyone safe.
“Underage drinking will always be a prevalent issue,” said Krueger. Regardless, many bars and restaurants of East Lansing try to utilize all the resources available to them to ensure it does not happen in their establishments.