Champaign bars in the news, 21 Bar Age by Default

This is an old blog, but it's a good one, especially considering that they are now going to be enforcing it.

Illini Pundit.com 21 Bar Age By Default.

Some highlights

In an odd twist, the State of Illinois is actually enforcing a local ordinance that provides the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) justification to enforce vague and ambiguous guidelines to close a local bar down when they "negligently allow" underage drinking. The local ordinance in question is Section 5-44 Section B.

further

It is too early to speculate on any political agenda, but this new heavy-handed approach by the ILCC will certainly result in a voluntary enforcement of a 21 bar age. It is an unaffordable financial risk and the only way to prevent violation of section 5-44 Section B is to prevent underage patrons in your bar. According to Larson, "personally I would rather have all the bars go 21 than live under the current policy.

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Since the State of Illinois is enforcing local code, it appears the power to address the situation will be in the hands of the City of Champaign. It doesn't seem to be a question of "can they", but instead a question of "will they" repeal the ordinance.

The ordinance is to allow under 21 into bars.

You'll note some of the comments...

This separation of entrance from consumption age is the root cause of the problem. Having it in place requires more unenforceable laws, greater infringement of human rights and wastes vast amounts of public resources (one might add; provides justification for some of our public servants). The solution is exceedingly simple. Lower both the drinking and entrance age to 19 or keep both at 21 years of age.

Lower either the drinking age, or raise the entrance age.

As I got further into the comments I was getting the sense that the commenters didn't believe that Champaign would actually enforce the rule and close any bars.

You'll note these comments were in May.

Joe's Brewery was closed for seven days. C.O. Daniel's was ordered to raise their entrance age to 21 until Aug. 23, 2010.

Welcome to the nanny state.