In early summer of 2017 Laramie’s city council approved a new ordinance which allows minors to stay within the bar area. This means any individual who is under the drinking age of 21 can be permitted to be in the alcohol service area but will still not be allowed to purchase or consume alcoholic drinks.
This decree was passed primarily to allow restaurants with bars to be able to generate income through their food service. But as a university town, Laramie faces the prospect of increase in minors consuming more alcohol. This also creates more issues to the bars in town.
“Every customer that walks through the doors is carded for age identifications and anyone under 18 will be not allowed near the alcohol area at all,” Desirae Laird, bartender at Cowboy Saloon, said.
She also added that on their 18 and above nights, all the alcohol is locked safely away from the reach of anyone beside the bartenders.
“Our 18 and above nights will be completely non-alcoholic. No bartender will serve any form of alcoholic beverage and on regular nights minors will not be allowed in the premises,” Austin Scott, bartender at Buckhorn, said.
The bars around town are doing all they can to prevent underage drinking, which is more difficult to prevent in bars that also serve food like the Front Street Tavern. Service cannot be refused to minors because most bars also serve food, but bars can prevent minors from entering the bar area. At busier times, like the weekends, bars can card at the door.
The law that was passed will definitely allow food chains like Applebees to increase their customer service capacity because more people can enter and enjoy their meal at the bar area. Bars that primarily serve alcohol will continue to enforce the 21 and older rule in order to avoid underage liquor consumption or possession.
