Two East Lansing bar owners were honored for their commitment to encourage responsible drinking by the Responsible Hospitality Council on Tuesday.

Joe Bell, owner of The Peanut Barrel Restaurant, 521 E. Grand River Ave., received the lifetime achievement award.

Joe Goodsir, owner of Rick's American Café, 224 Abbott Road, received an award for his work enforcing responsible drinking regulations.

East Lansing Deputy police Chief Tom Wibert also received a special achievement for increasing trust between bars and the city.

"Whether we'll ever reach perfection or not I don't know, I hope we do," Bell said of the councils' goal to promote responsible drinking.

Bell and Goodsir co-founded the council in 1999 after the death of a student, Bradley McCue. McCue died of alcohol poisoning on his 21st birthday in 1998 after drinking excessively.

Since then the council has been actively combating alcohol abuse by keeping communication open between bars in the Lansing area and providing their staffs with education on fake IDs and alcohol management.

Since the council formed, local bar owners have been working together with East Lansing police and city officials in formulating these solutions.

More than half the establishments that sell liquor in restaurants or in bars in the area belong to the council.

Wibert said relationships between the bars and East Lansing officials have come a long way.

"Who would have thought a bunch of barkeeps would be giving me an award?" Wibert asked.

East Lansing City Manager Ted Staton said these awards were important to encourage the cause of responsible drinking.

"Awards do a lot to build commitment to causes like this," Staton said, adding The Peanut Barrel was a model establishment with a spotless record.

The tradition of over-drinking on 21st birthdays was Goodsir's main concern for the future of the council, he said.

"The council needs to take more steps in breaking the concept of drinking 21 shots on a person's 21st birthday," he said.

East Lansing police officer Dan DeKorte, who oversees local drinking establishments, said the city's work to keep liquor out of the hands of minors and people who have drank too much has stemmed from the quality of the doormen employed at bars.

"These places are serving like 50 people in lines and are still taking the time to carefully look at the IDs," DeKorte said.