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Blame bouncers?ACC should reconsider who to fault for underage drinking in the Classic City. Beginning Sept. 1, the latest Athens-Clarke County policy to curb underage drinking will go into effect, and it's stiffer than your favorite vodka tonic. Local bar owners and liquor-license holders were informed earlier this month that their employees will be arrested and sent to jail if caught selling alcoholic beverages to underage drinkers, as reported on the front page of today's Red & Black....
Shawna Scott
posted 8/18/08 @ 9:51 AM EST
I have been reading your newspaper regularly throughout my college career. I am always excited to see you expose administrative inconsistencies, support student endeavors, and provide a forum for student discussion. These, I think, are your greatest strengths.
I am consistently disappointed, however, that you refuse to read your own research. In Monday's paper the editorial board asked if the blame for underage drinking should "lie on the bouncer who lets fake IDs slide, the bartender who serves the beverage or the bar owner who trains them in the first place," and yet, on page 5A you have answered your own question.
According to the alcohol article, "some bar personnel said they didn't want to be 'tricked,' Chisholm said.'These will be police investigations with underage operatives, real licenses and dates-of-birth clearly stating the customer is under 21,' he said. 'We're targeting those who knowingly furnish to underage customers.'"
I fail to see how these investigations will harm any of your aforementioned groups unjustly. For once, I think the ACC may have this one right.