Last week, area bars agreed to “voluntarily” give up drink specials on weekends for a year. In return, Chancellor Wiley and Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14, have agreed to call off the dogs for a year in their quest to ban drink specials.

At first glance, it appears Wiley and friends have won. At least that’s what the headlines in both student papers seemed to indicate last week. After all, the nights most students go out to the bars will now be more expensive.

But we must take a closer look at the issue. Take State Street Brats for example. Tuesdays, Brats has flip night, where students have a chance to save 75 percent off their drink order. Thursday evenings, Captain and Coke doubles are only $2.50. Yet, Saturday night, one of Brats’ drink specials was $2.25 Coors’ Lite bottles — hardly a special when compared to what is offered during the week.

Students have not been receiving large discounts on drinks during the weekend, and some bars such as the Plaza have never offered specials on weekends. In addition, the loophole in this agreement practically gives bars free reign.

A bar is permitted to offer a food/beverage combination for a discounted price, without it being considered a “drink special.” So Brats could still offer a long-island ice tea and a white brat for $3 Friday evenings, and people would purchase these “combos” all night long — usually just tossing the brat in the garbage.

Bar owners and students, most recently ASM’s Badger Party, have fought against City Council and the administration, contending drink specials are not the issue. The problem is some students choose not to always act responsibly when drinking. That is, they go out with the sole purpose of getting wasted. Price will not be the issue on evening’s students choose to be “superstars.”

The problem is also part imaginary. Some of the alders believe drink specials are to blame for all the late-night calls to the Madison downtown area, and they say the evidence is that there are so few calls everywhere outside the downtown area.

Indeed, alcohol presence is one of the reasons for the high number of calls downtown, but check any city — the results are the same. Wherever the greatest numbers of people congregate, particularly when they all spill out onto the street at the same time, that is where you will find the greatest number of police calls. The police expect this.

Having most of your entertainment venues in one area benefits the city, too, because the city can concentrate its resources in one area.

If Madison had the same number of police calls but they were evenly distributed throughout this city of over 180,000 people, imagine the police trying to get to every call. It would not be possible. This is why you find most bars congregated in one area. It is for practical purposes and the public’s safety.

Police statistics show that approximately one-third of all students who go to detox come from over-consuming in the dorms, one-third from house parties and one-third from the bars. Yet, all the focus has been on the bars because they are easiest to regulate.

The agreement between Wiley and friends and tavern owners leaves Susan Crowley and her “PACE posse” without a ship to sail. The reason PACE — formerly known as RWJ — had leverage was because Wiley, the group’s former director, continued to lead the cause, only in a more influential position.

Crowley has said she is not going to stop fighting for a ban on drink specials. She is concerned, and rightfully so. This year will be a test. The question is, will the number of students who go to detox on weekend evenings decrease now that drink specials have been eliminated?

Bar owners and student leaders believe this is a bet worth taking. As a student, I know where I am most likely to over-consume — at a house party. I can get practically unlimited beer for four- to five dollars and usually three shots for two dollars. Talk about cheap!

I would never have four to six shots at a bar — except on my birthday, when others are buying — because shots are rarely on special and it is simply too expensive!

Students and bars owners have won this round. Drink specials are here to stay for at least another year, and the Union has 48-oz. pitchers and extended hours this fall. I sure miss the fun!

— Matt Modell ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science. He is in Washington, D.C. this fall for an internship.