2008 Woodie Awards
Law Might Put Lights Out For Power Hour
by Bronson Pettitt
- Page 1 of 1
|
The power hour some people celebrate from midnight to 2 a.m. on their 21st birthday could come to an end.
Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, wrote a law that could be passed in the state legislature prohibiting adults from drinking until 8 a.m. on their 21st birthday.
"Power hour" is between the time when a person officially turns 21 at midnight and the time the bars close at 2 a.m. Often, new legal drinkers will down several shots of alcohol in that short period of time.
"[It's a] rather insignificant change," said Lanning, the chief author of the bill.
A Moorhead State University student died one year ago last week from alcohol poisoning after taking advantage of his power hour. The death prompted Lanning to write the bill, which was introduced into the Minnesota House earlier this month.
In 2003, a North Dakota State University student nearly died from alcohol poisoning after his power hour. A similar bill has passed in the North Dakota House of Representatives and is working its way through the state's senate.
The power hour ban has received national media attention. The New York Times, The Associated Press and Dateline NBC have done stories about the issue. The mother of the Moorhead State University man who died from alcohol poisoning appeared on The Today Show.
Minnesota's bill has been through two committee hearings and is awaiting senate approval. If passed, the law would take place immediately. Lanning doesn't see how there would be any opposition.
"It's a very simple bill," he said.
"We would lose a little bit of sales. It wouldn't have a real significant effect," said Blue Bricks manager Sally VanGuilber.
Jennifer Epper, an assistant manager at Buffalo Wild Wings, doesn't know for sure if it would hurt her business.
"It can be more of a hassle," she said, because the establishment serves food and alcohol until 2 a.m. and has no cutoff time for people under 21.
Park Lane Liquors co-owner Keith Hedge said the bill "is more of a bar thing."
Liquor stores in Mankato close at 10 p.m. -- two hours before power hour begins. MGM Liquor and Joseph's Liquor had similar predictions that if the bill passes, their businesses and others wouldn't see significant sales drops.
Minnesota State secondary education sophomore Dana Paasch said the bill would benefit 21-year-olds.
"It's good, because people get so drunk and so sick. They can easily get alcohol poisoning," Paasch said. Her boyfriend's sister took advantage of her power hour and drank so much she was sick for two days.
Abid Bodal disagrees.
"I think it doesn't make a difference, because the next day you're going to drink anyway," the electrical engineering sophomore said, who will turn 21 in less than a month -- but doesn't drink.
Another student agreed the bill would be helpful.
"I think it's good because it still allows people to drink on their birthday," said therapeutic recreation senior Anna Steffel. "They can have more fun on their 21st birthday."
Steffel said some of her friends have engaged in power hour and ended up having miserable birthdays.
If this bill passes, about 4,000 of MSU students -- a third of the school's 13,703 population -- who have or will turn 21 between the time the law is passed and Dec. 31, 2006 will have sober birthdays. Until 8 a.m., that is.
Bronson Pettitt is the Reporter assistant news editor