UI, state officials plan strict enforcement for 2009 Unofficial

By Steve Bauer

"Local and state officials again plan to do everything they can to discourage misbehavior at what has become an annual daylong drinking binge."

"The event, known as Unofficial St. Patrick's Day since it was developed as a promotion by a local bar owner in 1996 to capture business lost when students left town for spring break, has grown to attract young people from other campuses and communities..."

"City, county and state officials have met in recent weeks to plan strategies to prevent or reduce problems this year..."

"Plans this year call for a temporary mandatory bar entry age of 21 for all Champaign bars between State and Wright streets and Chalmers and Washington streets..."

Full article available at http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/02/15/ui_state_officials_pla...