Lawmakers will hold off on implementing a loosely monitored state liquor law that was set to be enforced Aug. 1. The law, passed in the 80s, ruled that establishments couldn’t increase the amount of alcohol in a drink without increasing the price proportionately. Mixed opinions from bar owners on the re-enforcement have prompted the legislature to postpone its decision until it reconvenes in January.
The law, if enforced, would work like this: a 16-oz single that costs $3 would increase to $6 if doubled to a 32-0z drink.
Local bartenders were skeptical about the law from the beginning.
“I just don’t see students happy about more expensive drink prices,” Nick Manning, a Barrel House bartender, said. “Part of being in college and living in a college town are the cheap drinks and deals all around town.”
The law, which applies to beverages containing liquor, was originally passed to allow residents to buy liquor by the drink at public establishments. In theory, the law is supposed to deter people from purchasing larger drinks or binge drinking. But some students say the law would only affect how often they can afford to drink at bars.
“One of best parts about being in a college town are the low drink prices,” Matt Mendelson, a senior from Shawnee, said. “If everything is going to double or come close to doubling, I don’t know that students are going to be able to afford to go as often.”
The law does not take into account how much an employee will be compensated for the increase in price. Since bar owners set the drink prices to a specific amount to assure each employee will receive compensation, owners must re-visit how much employees will be paid if the drink prices do in fact double.
Zack Muskin, a bartender at The Ranch, said he was happy the law would not be enforced for now, but that he believed it should be revisited.
“I feel like there a lot of things wrong with the law,” Muskin said. “It only addresses the liquor quantity, not some of the other issues involved, and I feel as though it is a hard law to monitor.”