Binge drinking, partying and antics are on the horizon, as Western homecoming fast approaches this upcoming weekend. London Police will be on high alert as thousands of students and alumni flood into the city. The annual Project LEARN (Liquor Enforcement and Reduction in Noise) will be in high effect this weekend. This is the third year the city of London has carried out the project, with police cracking down on noise and liquor violations. Last year alone between August and October, London-area police laid more than 1,400 Provincial Offence Act charges and bylaw offences as well as 130 Criminal Code charges against young drinkers. In total, 1,100 of those charged were students.
A house of my friends was included in the 1,100 students charged in last years Project LEARN. With the London Police Force being smarter than your average bear, they sent in undercover, 20-something aged girls to my friends kegger on homecoming Saturday. The girls were quick to call in after being asked to pay for a cup to gain access to the kegs. Police arrived on the scene to distribute several tickets to four of my friends, in addition to a court date. In the end they were charged with the illegal sale of alcohol and fined $375.00 per person.
With the events that took place in Kingston last weekend echoing throughout Ontario, will London's finest step up their game? After being out in the city for the last month, I can't say that I've witnessed a high police presence. That being said, there are no doubts that London's police force are not fully prepared for the antics that will ensue this coming weekend.
Do you think selling admission beforehand is a way around the problem? That's the plan... I hear.. and it's not bad. Are invite-only keggers possible?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, and it's a good way to keep the admission to only your friends (or their friends) because you can control the ticket sales beforehand but at the time you don't want to anger randoms if you don't let them in.
ReplyDeleteThese "Project Learn" guys broke up a relatively tame Homecoming party I was at this year and seized all the alcohol. I literally heard them say as they were about to drive away, "It's going to be a good Christmas party this year boys!"
ReplyDeleteThey thought they were out of earshot. Such a joke...