Businesses Paid to Not Serve Alcohol for State Patty's Day

STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - Local bars and restaurants in downtown State College are being paid not to serve alcohol this coming Saturday for the annual State Patty's Day celebrations.

Folks in the State College and Penn State communities have mixed reactions to the new rule, but most people agree it's a necessary step to take.

"It was definitely overwhelming."

That's how freshman Andrew Probst describes his first experience at Penn State, the weekend of State Patty's Day, 2012.

"Obviously, it's one weekend out of the year," he said. "It's a Penn State weekend, but it's definitely over the top."

State Patty's Day was created six years ago by a group of Penn State students, but over the years, the festivities have invited unwelcome guests.

"It's gotten a little more out of control with all the out-of-towners coming in and from all other colleges," Alexa Norian said.

Vice President of Student Affairs at Penn State says it's those out-of-towners that have created most of the problem. He says for several years, members of the community have worked together to come up with initiatives to stop State Patty's Day. This year there's a new incentive.

"All the taverns, all the restaurants, all the bottle shops have agreed not to sell or serve alcohol," Sims said.

A list of 34 downtown taverns and restaurants will be paid $5,000 each not to serve alcohol this weekend.

"We're trying to send a message that really this is not something that you're invited to or welcomed to," Sims said. "We're going to do all we can to discourage you from taking the time and going to the expense of visiting us on this date."

Junior Alexa Norian doesn't think this will stop State Patty's Day altogether.

"People can still get their own alcohol from distributors and liquor stores," she said. "If students want to drink, they want to drink, but it's definitely a good deterrent and a good start."

Sims says the money to pay these businesses will come from profits from parking for State Patty's Day in years past and from the partnership between the State College borough and the university.

The following is the full list of alcohol free zones for State Patty's Day 2013:

• The Saloon
• Inferno Brick Oven and Bar
• bar bleu
• The Hopshop Beer Market
• The Deli Restaurant
• Z Bar
• The Lion's Den
• The Shandygaff
• The Tavern
• The Gingerbread Man
• The All-American Rathskeller
• Spats Cafe and Speakeasy
• The Phyrst
• The Clover
• Brewsky's Bottle Shop at The Day's Inn Penn State
• Rotelli
• Levels
• Bill Pickle's Tap Room
• Indigo
• Allen Street Grill
• The Corner Room
• Zeno's
• Chumley's
• Zeno's ToGo
• Sharkey's Bar & Bottle Shop
• The Brewery
• The Darkhorse
• Kildare's
• Duo
• Chili's Grill & Bar
• Cafe 210 West
• Mad Mex
• Zola New World Bistro
• The Atherton Hotel