Minors Easily in Possession
Being old enough to get alcohol was never a challenge, but is it even easier on a college campus?
By Carlee Campbell
For every student handed out an MIP by Central Michigan University or Mount Pleasant police, dozens of other underage students sit and drink undetected in the comfort of their own homes or in the confines of a crowded bar-without an officer in site.
In 2014, Central Michigan University and Mount Pleasant police cited more than 400 students for liquor violations, yet the same agencies did not issue a single citation to a liquor establishment for providing alcohol to a minor.
Nearly 80 percent of students, meanwhile, who responded to a non-scientific survey conducted by the CMU Multimedia Journalism Capstone class reported that acquiring liquor through downtown or any licensed establishment was easy.
In the last few years, CMU administration and police have cracked down on the alcohol policies in dorms, especially during tailgates. But all that extra vigilance and precautions they are taking have not changed the fact that students agree that it’s easy to get a drink while underage in Mount Pleasant.
2014 saw the highest rate of MIP’s being served in three years, but students are finding it easier and easier to get alcohol from convenience stores and bars. So why aren’t adults being cited and who is keeping the bars in check?
Last year, city records provided by the Central Michigan University Police Department show that 149 people were cited with MIP’s and Mount Pleasant PD issued a total of 297 for a combination of MIP’s and open intoxication.
Cheating the System
Wayside Central/O’Kelly’s was voted as the least strict bar in Mount Pleasant when checking licenses according to the survey.
Junior Austin Woods argues that the layout could be part of the issue. Wayside Central, which is connected to O’Kelly’s, is the dance club that allows 18 and older provided you show proof you are not in high school. Minors are marked with black X’s in permanent marker on the back of their hands, but this doesn’t stop minors from acquiring alcohol in house.
The hallway connecting Wayside and O’Kelly’s is narrow, and although a bouncer sits at the Wayside entrance leading in, during night’s like their famous Tuesday pint night, the hallway becomes so overwhelmed with people pushing and shoving, that patrons can move in between the two establishments without getting their ID’s checked.
“[To get into O’Kelly’s] you just need to have a drink in
your hand.” - Austin Woods, junior
And with such a busy crowd, Junior Jay Walton says that once you’re inside, getting alcohol is just a matter of finding someone to give your money to.
“It’s easy enough to plan ahead for someone to get you alcohol and have them bring it to you,” Walton said.
In contrast, The Bird Bar & Grill held the title for the strictest when checking ID’s.
“The Bird is definitely the hardest to get into,” Woods said. “[The bouncer] flicks the ID, he uses a flashlight. He’s good.”
Chris Staudicher and Ryan Mulka, bouncers that work at bars in downtown Mount Pleasant, both claim that everyone that enters their employer’s establishments are carded and of age. In fact, Mulka says that because of his establishment’s single entrance, it’s nearly impossible for anyone underage to get through.
“We’re pretty top notch and tight knit with security,” Mulka said. “Better than some of the other bars around.”
Staudicher says that he gets a lot of fake ID's but catches nearly every one that comes through.
Keeping Businesses in Check
Currently, 81 establishments have registered liquor licenses. However, in the last two years-only eight have been cited with selling to minors. None of which are considered bars.
The citations for bars serving alcohol to minors is handled by the Liquor County Commission located in Lansing. In order for any establishment to sell alcohol of any kind, they must file a permit request through LARA and LCC.
In order to maintain that those with licenses are operating under rules and laws including selling to minors, LCC runs a randomized sting operation that attempts to hit every establishment at least once a year.
During the sting operation, a minor is sent into an establishment with their real I.D.’s and attempt to purchase alcohol. Establishments that fail during this sting operation face fines for both the business and the person who conducted the illegal transaction, according to LCC office manager, Tina Jointer. The reasons they fail are various, but Jointer brings it down to the individuals behind the registers.
“Most of it is due to human error,” Jointer said
No matter the thoroughness of LCC and the attempts to catch minors by CMUPD and MPPD, students still find the same truth-getting alcohol in Mount Pleasant isn’t an impossible feat.
Out of all the bars in Mount Pleasant, Wayside Central and O’Kelly’s Sportsbar is the only one to be cited for selling liquor to minors in the last four years according to records from Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
It’s Who You Know
The ease of which students claim it is to acquire alcohol in Mount Pleasant is in stark contrast to those who believe it to be difficult. According to the same non-scientific survey, more than 76 percent of students believe obtaining alcohol is easy, and less than two percent of students described the acquisition as difficult.
Walton says that the key to acquisition of alcoholic beverages is a three syllable word-networking.
“A lot of it has to do with knowing the right people that can buy for you.” - Jay Walton, junior
With weeks to go before his 21st birthday, Walton says he’s found no particular struggles in being furnished with alcohol since he arrived at CMU. He claims most of his buyers over the years have been people he’s met through his RSO groups.
Similarly, Wood’s admits to buying for his underage friends once he turned 21. But his concern wasn’t in getting caught, it was that the stores he bought from didn’t take notice of his large purchases.
“I’d be carrying like seven 40 [ounce beers], three fifths [of liquor] and a couple six packs,” Woods said. “I did it all the time and they never questioned it.”
Brandon Moskun said he's never had trouble getting alcohol, but that bars like The Bird Bar & Grill were places he never attempted to get into.
The Bird Bar & Grill located on Main Street in downtown Mount Pleasant has two entrances that are both guarded by bouncers.
Thursday night's find the most students making the pilgrimage from apartment complexes and dorms to the drink specials and atmosphere of downtown Mount Pleasant's bars.
Brandon Moskun said he's never had trouble getting alcohol, but that bars like The Bird Bar & Grill were places he never attempted to get into.