Columbia considers possible drink specials ordinance

As the university prepares for a flood of students to return to town, the city’s Substance Abuse Advisory Commission met for it’s monthly meeting. On the agenda included a discussion about the possibility of a drink specials ordinance.

The idea was originally brought up earlier this year. Drink specials in town continue to get more competitive, prompting the city to think about the safety of both the consumers and community as a whole.

Molly Borgmeyer chairs the commission. She said they’re goal is to create a safe place for the community as a whole.

“Whether or not it is a student or family or young adult, we really want everyone to feel welcome and have a place in the community,” Borgmeyer said.

The drink specials ordinance wouldn’t eliminate drink specials entirely. Rather, members of the commission said it would get rid of the “dangerous” specials, including “all you can drink” nights.

Dan Rader owned Bengals before selling the location. He is preparing to open a new bar downtown. He also serves on the commission.

Rader said that as a bar owner, he is in favor of the ordinance. He said he thinks it is much needed, as pressure on existing bars increases with more and more bars opening and offering lower prices.

Rader said that some bars, for example, will charge a cover charge of 5 or 10 dollars, and patrons can essentially have an open bar.

Rader said the ordinance would offer common sense, basic rules that would prevent unsafe pricing practices.

Kim Dude works for MU Student Life and has served on the Substance Abuse commission for more than 20 years. Dude says surveys done by the university indicate most students begin drinking before starting college. She said the university tries to educate incoming students on alcohol safety.

“If you’re going to take that risk, we want to teach you how to drink in such a way that you’re a whole lot less likely to hurt yourself or another person.”

Dude referenced research that shows low alcohol prices encourages binge-drinking behavior.

“So it’s important that we have alcohol at a price that certainly allows people to go out and have a good time but does not encourage the over-consumption.”

Dude said that if she could, she would discuss underage and alcohol abuse year-round, and that to an extent it is a year-round issue. But she said the Fall semester can be a very important time to start the conversation. Between football season and many students away from home for the first time, she said more people can be susceptible to dangerous drinking this time of year.

“With athletics and football certainly comes celebrating … so it just makes this period of time in an academic year a little bit more vulnerable.”

At Thursday’s Substance Abuse Advisory Commission meeting, the group decided to table the discussion until the October meeting. Rader expects most of the bar industry to be on board with the drinks special ordinance.