2008 Woodie Awards
Bottomless drink specials may be on their way out
Alicia Tandeski
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: News
A ban on limitless drink specials has been introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives in order to stop deaths such as Mankato student Amanda Jax's in October.
Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Minn., is hoping to pass the bill to help stop binge drinking, according to an article in The New York Times Jan. 20.
This bill was first introduced in March, but needed revisions. A similar ordinance has been passed in the areas around Mankato.
If the ban goes into effect, will it hurt the bars and the college students in the St. Cloud area?
St. Cloud area students expressed different emotions when hearing about the possible ban.
"I believe that the ban to limitless drinking would hurt the bars," said Yvonne Binette, a senior at SCSU. "Most college students go out during the week because of specials like beer and pizza. If they ban it, college students won't go out as much due to lack of money and specials, and bars will lose a lot of their business during the week."
Some disagreed.
"I don't think that the ban would effect us at all," said Matt Morrisette, a bouncer at DB Searle's. "We have our regulars here every day and if it hurt anyone it would hurt the people that come to those specific specials more than it would hurt the business."
Why this ban and why now?
According to the New York Times, Amanda Jax, who had attended Minnesota State University in Mankato, died after celebrating her 21st birthday at a bar in October.
Another female college student died of acute alcohol poisoning in December, and binge drinking is suspected in the deaths of two college-aged men in January, including one in North Mankato.
Because of all the deaths from binge drinking, Lanning said he wants to pass this bill more than ever.
"If this bill is passed and bars can't have their limitless drinking specials, there will always be binge drinking," said Ryan Asher of Minneapolis. "If not at the bar, then somewhere else. People are going to want to drink for as cheap and as much as they possibly can."
"I believe that people will still come out to the bars no matter if the limitless drinking is banned or not. House parties and parties in general have been cracked down on a lot lately and I believe that is a good thing. At least here, when someone is drinking, there are always eyes watching to make sure that they aren't drinking too much and are finding a way home," Morrisette said.
Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Minn., is hoping to pass the bill to help stop binge drinking, according to an article in The New York Times Jan. 20.
This bill was first introduced in March, but needed revisions. A similar ordinance has been passed in the areas around Mankato.
If the ban goes into effect, will it hurt the bars and the college students in the St. Cloud area?
St. Cloud area students expressed different emotions when hearing about the possible ban.
"I believe that the ban to limitless drinking would hurt the bars," said Yvonne Binette, a senior at SCSU. "Most college students go out during the week because of specials like beer and pizza. If they ban it, college students won't go out as much due to lack of money and specials, and bars will lose a lot of their business during the week."
Some disagreed.
"I don't think that the ban would effect us at all," said Matt Morrisette, a bouncer at DB Searle's. "We have our regulars here every day and if it hurt anyone it would hurt the people that come to those specific specials more than it would hurt the business."
Why this ban and why now?
According to the New York Times, Amanda Jax, who had attended Minnesota State University in Mankato, died after celebrating her 21st birthday at a bar in October.
Another female college student died of acute alcohol poisoning in December, and binge drinking is suspected in the deaths of two college-aged men in January, including one in North Mankato.
Because of all the deaths from binge drinking, Lanning said he wants to pass this bill more than ever.
"If this bill is passed and bars can't have their limitless drinking specials, there will always be binge drinking," said Ryan Asher of Minneapolis. "If not at the bar, then somewhere else. People are going to want to drink for as cheap and as much as they possibly can."
"I believe that people will still come out to the bars no matter if the limitless drinking is banned or not. House parties and parties in general have been cracked down on a lot lately and I believe that is a good thing. At least here, when someone is drinking, there are always eyes watching to make sure that they aren't drinking too much and are finding a way home," Morrisette said.