Although it's good to know that bars in and around Lansing are making an effort to curb binge drinking on people's 21st birthdays, there are another 364 days in the year that the same bars look the other way when people are drinking too much.

I work night shifts in East Lansing, in an area surrounded by bars, and often hang out with night receptionists in the residence halls. The last-call bar crowd never changes from night to night. It's not anybody's 21st birthday, so the bars aren't concerned that they're letting people stumble out of their establishments, unable to walk in a straight line -- much less drive themselves home (and more than you would think choose to). And I often hear people who are underage bragging about "how wasted" they got going out to the bar with their fake IDs.

Somebody's 21st birthday is, indeed, a great opportunity for them to finally go out and get that fuzzy feeling only attainable by drinking alcohol, but it's not the only night available to drink more than they should.

Jennifer Vallier
English junior