Alcohol in the news; Unofficial rules

The sky is falling, so here's a roundup of all the news stories on preparations for next weeks' unofficial. Where do you want to get your news from?

From WAND 17 NBC

Mayor Announces "Unofficial" Rules

CHAMPAIGN, IL- Champaign Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Gerald Schweighart announced Thursday the city's plans for dealing with the upcoming "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day" at the University of Illinois.

According to a press release sent Thursday, University, Urbana and Champaign Police will be out on campus to keep the peace, enforce state and local laws and respond to calls for service. The Champaign Fire Department will also be out, inspecting bars for overcrowding and monitoring balcony load limits at private residences.

Other regulations include: bars and liquor stores may not sell alcohol before 11 a.m. on March 4th; bars may not have any drink specials from 11 a.m. March 4th until 2:30 a.m. March 5th; bars may not serve pitchers of beer or shots and all drinks must be served in a paper or plastic cup; all campus bars must have a doorman present checking ID's and no one under 21 is allowed inside a campus bar.

Anyone looking to purchase a keg of beer, more than seven cases of beer or more than 24 liters of liquor on March 4th must fill out an Adult Responsibility Form prior to the sale.

From the News Gazette

Champaign mayor issues rules for 'Unofficial'

As liquor commissioner, Schweighart is afforded executive powers relating to liquor sales in city stores and bars. The following orders will be in effect:

– Bars and package liquor stores in the campus area may not serve or sell alcohol before 11 a.m. on March 4.

– Bars may not host any private functions that result in special drink pricing or other privileges from 11 a.m. on March 4 until 2:30 a.m. on March 5.

– Bars may not serve pitchers of alcohol or shots of undiluted alcohol, and all drinks must be served in paper or plastic cups on March 4.

– Patron entry age for all bars in the campus area will be 21 years or older between 11 a.m. on March 4 until 2:30 a.m. on March 5.

– All campus bars must have a doorman, aged 21 or older, present and checking IDs at all entrances during the hours of operation.

– The mayor's office will not be issuing any keg permits for parties, making it illegal to possess more than one keg per residence during this event.

– For establishments licensed to sell package liquor, an Adult Responsibility Form must be completed by the purchaser and kept on file prior to the sale of 168 or more 12 ounce containers of beer or malt beverage; 24 or more one-liter bottles of distilled spirits; or one keg.

From WICD 15 ABC

Emergency Preps in Place: Unofficial 2011

Champaign- The biggest drinking holiday, is back on the University of Illinois campus next week.
Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day, an event originally created to bring college students here to the area.. But in recent years, it's a day that's dreaded by law enforcement.

In the past, police issued hundreds of citations, others have been hospitalized, one person even died.
But Mayor Jerry Schweighart admits, he thought about loosening up restrictions that are only in place during Unofficial.

No Leniency for Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day

There's been little trouble in past years when it comes to the Unofficial Saint Patrick's day celebration here in Champaign. The Mayor even considered being more lenient on some of the rules for next Friday. But Mayor Jerry Schweighart says every year on the unofficial holiday there is some disruption, whether it be arrests or young people drinking too much and having to go to the hospital

Fox 55 carried the same story as WICD.

Rules from last year's Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day will stand

From the Daily Illini

Police department stresses safety during 'Unofficial' yearly event

Ask a group of students how much alcohol is in a classic can of Four Loko, and they’d probably guess wrongly on the first few tries.

And in a shot glass, or a mug of cool ale? Or even the cost of a Champaign drinking ticket?

Representatives from the University, Champaign, and Urbana police departments were answering questions like these for a safety seminar titled “Officially Be Safe for Unofficial.”

Students received free safety T-shirts, wristbands, and whistles along with their answers on the upcoming Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 4. University Police Department Patrol Division Commander Lt. Skip Frost stressed that students should “be aware of your surroundings” when out on the weekend.

Champaign Mayor issues Emergency Order, announces Unofficial plans

Champaign Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Gerald Schweighart has announced the city's preliminary Unofficial St. Patrick's Day plans for Friday, March 4. The UI will once again invoke it's "no tolerance" policy, and will work with Champaign, Urbana and University Police to "keep the peace," Schweighart said in a press release. The Champaign Fire Department will be inspecting liquor-licensed facilities for overcrowding, and Schweighart has issued - under an emergency order - these regulations for the sale of alcohol in licensed liquor establishments:

• Bars and package liquor stores in the campus area may not serve or sell alcohol prior to 11 a.m. on Friday, March 4.

• Bars may not host any private functions that result in special drink pricing or other privileges on premise from 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 4 until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5.

• Bars may not serve pitchers of alcohol or shots of undiluted alcohol and all drinks must be served in paper or plastic cups on March 4.

• Patron entry age for all bars in the campus area will be 21 years or older between 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4 until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5.

• All campus bars must have a doorman, aged 21 or older, present and checking ID’s at all entrances during the hours of operation.

• The Mayor’s Office will not be issuing any keg permits for parties, making it illegal to possess more than 1 keg per residence during this event.

• For establishments licensed to sell package liquor, an Adult Responsibility Form must be completed by the purchaser and kept on file prior to the sale of the following quantities of alcohol: 168 or more 12 ounce containers of beer or malt beverage; 24 or more 1 liter of distilled spirits; and/or one keg.