The event is part of a weeklong comprehensive plan review initiative, an effort put on by the city every five years to outline the direction East Lansing will be heading.

Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase, but will not be provided by the city.

East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas said the city aims to attract public feedback from students and those who might feel more comfortable in an informal setting.

“It’s an event about getting people that may not want to go to an event at the Hannah Community Center, but maybe they would go to Dublin Square,” Lahanas said. “It’s an idea to try to get input from a broad range of people.”

But some community members have been skeptical about the city’s methods. East Lansing residents Chris Root and Sheila Taylor spoke out against Brew & Do during the public comments portion of last Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Taylor and Root took issue with the event’s location, saying holding the event at a bar excludes the recovering alcoholic community, the underage population and others who might be interested in commenting on city issues.

Taylor said the flyer the city was using to promote the event, which features a glass of alcohol, sends the wrong message.

“I wish that my city wouldn’t participate in another subtle environmental message saying the way to envision and create your city is by drinking,” she said.

Taylor said she feels the underage population, including MSU and local high school students, would not feel welcome at an event like Brew & Do.

“I think we want the event to be something that young people can attend,” she said. “We don’t feel this is an invitation for them.”

The event potentially could be useful for city officials, but might not be the most effective way to obtain information, journalism and media and information junior Spencer Ray said.

“It doesn’t sound like a bad idea because things could potentially get done, but on the other hand, you’re going to an irresponsible place to get responsible things done,” Ray said. “I personally wouldn’t hold a meeting at a bar.”

Lahanas said the council took a serious look at the issue and decided to pull the advertisement, but will continue the event as scheduled.

“After seeing the poster, I think their comments were fairly stated,” Lahanas said.

“It’s not an event about drinking,” he said. “I think we took it seriously and because of that we see their point on the poster, but I still firmly believe in the event.”

Lahanas said no one who comes to the Brew & Do event has to drink if they don’t want to.

“In society today, there are people who choose to consume alcohol and people who choose not to consume alcohol,” he said. “I don’t see it as something that we have to actively make sure there is no alcohol at city events.”