The Campus-Community Coalition for Change’s latest initiative could mean serious changes in University social life.
Organization members are urging the Parish of East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council to ban alcoholic drink specials.
Nancy Mathews, the CCCC’s executive director, provided a copy of the proposed ordinance and supporting documents upon a public records request but would not comment on the ordinance until today.
In a fax responding to the request Mathews said, “We want to disseminate all documents at the same time as a conscientious effort to be fair to all members of the LSU community who are interested in the information.”
The proposed ordinance will make it illegal for bars and restaurants to host or advertise for many of the drinking promotions that are popular in bars frequented by University students, and addresses eight different concerns of the CCCC.
Examples of advertisements for each section were included in the CCCC’s supporting documents.
• The first section would make it illegal to furnish alcohol free of charge. In the example advertisements, Reggies “mid term blow-out,” which advertised free drinks from 8 until 10 p.m., would be prohibited. Also “ladies night” – when women get drinks for free – offered at JL’s Place and Reggies, would be eliminated.
• Venues would not be permitted to offer “all you can drink” specials, such as those offered at Tiger Bar and Mellow Mushroom.
̢ۢ The ordinance would prevent bars from selling alcohol for less than the retail price. Almost every bar in the University area advertises promotions, selling drinks for $1 or less.
• Alcohol vendors would not be able to sell multiple drinks for a single price. SoGo Live’s advertised three-for-one specials, and Bogie’s two-for-one Red Bull and Jager would fall under the proposed ordinance.
• Another section states that it would be illegal to sell “non-standard size containers intended for one person.” The CCCC listed Reggie’s $5 “Monster Drinks,” and mixed drink pitchers, as prohibited drinks.
̢ۢ The ordinance would nick alcohol-related games, or games that offer alcohol as prizes. Beer pong Рa game involving several glasses of beer and a ping pong ball that requires players to drink during the course of the game Рhosted by alcohol vendors would be prohibited.
̢ۢ It would make it illegal to advertise any of the prohibited selling practices.
̢ۢ The last section of the ordinance states that it is illegal to do anything else that would violate the intent of this ordinance. If a bar created a special that would sell alcohol with the intent to sell in large capacity, or at a lower price, but not listed in the proposed ordinance, it would still be illegal.
The packet promoting the suggested ordinance contains a summary by the CCCC regarding why its members feel the ordinance is important.
The summary states that binge drinking is “fueled” by low-price and high-volume drinks targeted at University students.
The summary also states that the advertising targets and encourages under-age drinking, because most college age students are under 21.
Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]