As soon as she hit the big 21 at midnight on Thursday, Kelly Pierse celebrated as many MSU students do when they become legal - with a drink at the bar.

"It was the longest day because it was hours until I could have a drink legally in a bar," said Pierse, an interdisciplinary studies in social science with a specialization in health studies junior.

Pierse went out with some friends to Dagwoods Tavern and Grill, 2803 E. Kalamazoo St., and Stobers Cocktail Lounge, 812 E. Michigan Ave., both in Lansing.

The bartenders at Dagwoods were aware of the celebration and kept a close eye on the group, making sure no one, especially the birthday girl, overdrank.

"We're not going to let someone drink themselves into a complete stupor," bartender Pete Moody said.

Dagwoods is a member of the East Lansing Responsible Hospitality Council, a group of area liquor licensees formed in 1999 to promote safe environments for celebrations.

The council adheres to a code of conduct that includes identifying and speaking with the celebrating group to explain the policies and assigning one server to help monitor drink consumption. They also encourage consumption of food and water, discourage offering free drinks or special discounts for the birthday person and recommend use of a phone tree to alert other establishments if the group is moving on to another place.

But each establishment interprets the rules differently.

Crunchy's, 254 W. Grand River Ave., allows five drinks but no buckets of beer, and Harper's Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave., does not admit people in the bar on their 21st birthday.

Harper's bartender Casey Comstock said they do not admit people on their 21st birthday because of the dangerous drinking some people take part in during their first time at a bar.

"Typically, they try to do a lot of shots - and basically binge drink - and it's too much liability on our business to have that type of behavior," Comstock said.

English junior Kelly O'Brien said she called Harper's a week before her birthday to make sure she could get in and was told she would be able to.

On her birthday Friday night, however, she was told she wasn't allowed in.

O'Brien was upset about the miscommunication but said she got free VIP passes for another night and understands why they have the policy.

"They want people to be careful, and MSU students are notorious for going overboard on their 21st, but it's kind of unfair in a way," she said. "Just because a poor precedent has been set, it doesn't mean it should ruin it for the rest of us."

Much of the heightened awareness came after MSU student Bradley McCue died from alcohol poisoning on his 21st birthday in 1998.

After their son's death, John and Cindy McCue formed B.R.A.D., or Be Responsible About Drinking Inc. to educate others on the responsible use of alcohol and its effects.

Students receive cards from the organization on their 21st birthday to remind them to celebrate safely.

B.R.A.D. Program Director and former Olin health educator Jasmine Greenamyer said the cards create discussion between friends about when they should step in and stop each other from drinking.

"The card is not saying, 'Don't drink on your 21st birthday,'" Greenamyer said. "It's saying, 'Hey, have a good time, but we want you to turn 22 as well.'"

Pierse said she got a birthday card from B.R.A.D. and agreed with its message.

"If you're so intoxicated that you can't even remember what happened, how is that worth celebrating?" she said.

The council works with local and university officials to combat excessive drinking and to provide safe environments.

"The city, Michigan State and the liquor licensees all recognize you're going to celebrate - that's human nature - just be careful. We want you to have a good time," said Julie Sawaya, owner and general manager of Woody's Oasis Bar and Grill, 211 Grand River Ave., and Responsible Hospitality Council executive board member. Woody's policy on 21st birthdays follows the code but doesn't give students a set number of drinks.

East Lansing police officer Dan DeKorte and his colleagues attend the Responsible Hospitality Council's monthly meetings to address any concerns and to answer questions.

The police department has cracked down on establishments to make sure they don't have dangerously drunk people on their premises, DeKorte said, which would result in a liquor law violation.

"We don't see too many people wind up going to the hospital on their birthdays, so that has definitely cut down."

Despite its dangers, people tend to overindulge on their birthdays, some local bartenders and managers said.

"Shots are very popular on 21st birthdays, so we limit them," said Penny Hawkins, general manager of Beggar's Banquet, 218 Abbott Road.

"Friends try to think up the grossest strongest shot they can," she said. "A real popular one is Three Wise Men (Jack Daniels, Jim Beam and Johnnie Walker), so if they start ordering those we give them just one, but if it's a foo-foo shot with juice and stuff, we let them have a couple.

"We're pretty picky about what we let them have."