ICC takes action against underage drinking

In a united effort to police underage drinking at the 'Street,' the Inter-Club Council agreed Sunday night to distribute wristbands to legal drinkers at the eating clubs, signalling the clubs' increasing push to regulate themselves.

"This will be our ongoing policy," ICC adviser Alice Teti '00 said. "We think wristbands will be the best way to go."

The new policy will begin tonight, according to Teti, to determine if issuing wristbands is the most effective way to control underage drinking. If the program is successful, the eating clubs will continue using wristbands for the rest of the year, Teti said.

She added, however, because the ICC has yet to receive the wristbands, only some clubs may be using them this weekend.

Earlier this week, the ICC ordered colored tape wristbands, which students who are over 21 will receive at the door of the clubs instead of the usual marking or stamp. The color of wristbands will be the same each night at all clubs.

Door security will check student IDs each time a student enters a club to ensure that the wristband was issued properly, Teti explained.

The clubs decided to replace the former policy of marking hands at the door because it is easy for students to duplicate.

"All clubs are behind this," ICC president Dan Winn '01 said. "We think this is a step in the right direction."

Teti said she was prompted to suggest the idea by a study recently released by the Harvard University School of Public Health. The researchers surveyed colleges across the nation about their alcohol policies and concluded that using wristbands was an effective way of regulating underage drinking.

In addition, Tiger Inn and Colonial Club have used wristbands in the past and found it to be useful, Teti added.

Princeton Borough Police Capt. Charles Davall applauded the new policy.

"I think that's great," Davall said. "Anything they can do is definitely a positive thing. [The clubs] have to make the commitment to stop serving underage drinkers."

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The new wristband system arrives amid a series of meetings between Borough police and the eating clubs. Police met Feb. 19 with the newly-elected club presidents to discuss laws and liability involved in serving alcohol.

In addition, they have met with eating clubs individually to examine their procedures. Davall said police met with Cottage Club last Friday and Tower Club last Tuesday. Snow forced police to postpone their meeting with Terrace Club, which was scheduled for last Monday, and meetings with Charter Club and Cap and Gown Club are currently being planned.